Giancarlo Pedote in the Vendée Globe update: Less than 1,500 miles from the finish
by L'IMOCA Prysmian 28 Jan 06:59 PST
28 January 2025
Onboard image week 12 - Giancarlo Pedote in the Vendée Globe © Giancarlo Pedote
Currently lying in 15th place in the provisional Vendée Globe ranking, the skipper of Prysmian, Giancarlo Pedote, is about to tackle the last 1,500 miles in the sprint to the finish in Les Sables-d'Olonne.
Expected to make landfall on Monday or Tuesday, the Italian sailor is preparing to round off what has been an intense journey, punctuated by technical challenges, strategic choices and often trying weather conditions.
Over the past few hours, Giancarlo has been navigating his way through a particularly fluky zone of high pressure, where the light winds are hampering his progress.
"It's all about keeping the boat making headway as best you can but nothing's easy in this type of anticyclonic situation. Last night, I had to traverse some big patches of light conditions, which was particularly heavy going," admits the Florentine, well aware of the importance of every mile covered. Targeting a Top 15 position on the finish line, he weighs up the challenge presented by his current position. "A position out to the west looks more favourable and I'm over to the east. I haven't managed to reposition myself. I've had to contend with the wind I've got over here but it was impossible to follow the same strategy as those ahead of me. If I'd gybed, I would have been zigzagging in the wrong direction, which wasn't a good option." Despite these constraints, the skipper of Prysmian is continuing to fight as ever and remains focused on the next crucial steps.
Home straight: maximum concentration
The last few miles promise to be quick thanks to a depression that is set to push his little group as far as the finish.
"We'll have to time the gybe right to negotiate the Azores biodiversity protection zone as best we can. It will involve a bit of strategy but it's all going to come down to a drag race essentially," he explains. Though he's monitoring the weather forecasts for the end of the course, Giancarlo prefers to stay focused on the here and now.
"I'm not really thinking about the finish yet. Right now, we're at 30 degrees North and we still need to get up to 40 degrees North and beyond. I'm staying focused on the present moment and channelling my energy to where it's needed."
Naturally, Giancarlo Pedote is totally committed to making headway and is giving a masterclass in unfailing determination in the process. His experience and his concentration will be precious assets as he takes on this final challenge in the race to France's Vendée region, where he is set to complete his circumnavigation of the globe after what has been a demanding and intense course.