(December 9, 2024; Day 30) – As is very often the case in the southern oceans, big breakaways caused by one weather system are rarely maintained on the Vendée Globe and today the tables have turned a little more in the favor of those immediately behind the top two skippers, leader Charlie Dalin (MACIF Santé Prévoyance) and Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil).
Whilst Dalin – who crossed the longitude of Cape Leeuwin this afternoon – has been slowed to around 12-15 knots at times today, Yoann Richomme (PAPREC ARKÉA) and Thomas Ruyant (VULNERABLE) – have been the fastest in the fleet and in the last 36 hours have seen their deficit to Dalin reduced by some 200 miles to a much more tenable 330 nautical miles this afternoon.
The race leader crossed the longitude of Cape Leeuwin at 14:12:58hrs UTC, after 29d 02h 10min 58s of racing, thereby just missing out on Armel Le Cléac’h’s 2016 record of 28d 20h 12m. Cape Leeuwin, the second of the course’s three great Capes, was named after the Dutch ship Leeuwin (The Lioness) which sailed round Australia, rounding the Cape in March 1622.
But there is little respite in the big south, and Ruyant is advancing fast with Richomme in 35-40 knots of wind and big seas. “The conditions have been very hard. You have to be on top of it. The head of the fleet has taken a bit of a lead. You mustn’t lose the rhythm. When there is an opportunity or something to take, you have to be there.”
The next test comes tomorrow evening when a ridge of high pressure might cut them off and allow Dalin and perhaps Simon to extend away once again.
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Attrition:
Nov. 15: Maxime Sorel (FRA), V and B – Monbana – Mayenne – ankle injury, mast damage
Dec. 4: Louis Burton (FRA), Bureau Vallée – rigging failure
The Vendée Globe, raced in the 60-foot IMOCA, is the elite race round the world, solo, non-stop, and without assistance. On November 10, 40 skippers started the 2024-25 edition which begins and ends in Les Sables d’Olonne, France.
Armel Le Cléac’h, winning in 2017, holds the record for the 24,300 nm course of 74 days 03 hours 35 minutes 46 seconds. Only one sailor has won it twice: Michel Desjoyeaux in 2001 and 2009. This is tenth running of the race.
Source: VG2024, SSN – https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2024/12/09/vendee-globe-crossing-the-second-cape/
