Vendee Globe Ocean Race, Focused on the Finish Line

Fleet News
Media circus for Gabart and Armel Le Cléac’h
Thomson nursing boat home
Tricky trade winds

Fleet News
The record breaking duo’s feet have barely touched the ground since they made their unprecedented arrival into Les Sables d’Olonne yesterday. Never in the race’s history have two boats been so close together. With an exhausted François Gabart (MACIF) rationalising his victory and an energetic Armel Le Cléac’h (Banque Populaire) gallantly coming to terms with his second place. After the press conferences the two skippers enjoyed their first showers, with towels, got dressed into clean clothes and partied with their teams, friends, guests and sponsors. It was an early night for François Gabart (MACIF) and an early morning for Armel Le Cléac’h (Banque Populaire) as he dominated the dance floor at their joint welcome home party. Up with the lark the two skippers are enduring a marathon of media interviews as the world’s media clamours for their attention in the face of the remarkable victory. Undoubtedly, a historic battle, which will be discussed around the globe’s pontoons for decades to come as one of the greatest yacht racing moments in history.


Thomson battered by gale force winds
Meanwhile back on the track, last night, Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) was in conditions ranging from 35 knots of wind gusting up to 45 knots and now in 35 knots of wind. “I just want to finish the race as safely as possible. My foot is off the pedal. I am taking it easy. I don’t really care when I finish as long as I finish. 45 knots of wind in a IMOCA Open 60 is not enjoyable at all.” He said today, on the English version of Vendée Globe LIVE.


“At the beginning the Organisation were talking about 77 days and I thought that was ridiculous. How wrong I was. To finish in third place would be absolutely awesome, especially in the boat that I have got and that is what I aiming for. It’s highly unlikely that I’ll finish after 83 days but if I do it means I have a serious problem. I just want to get the boat to the finish. I am going to nurse her to the finish and look forward to my cheeseburger at the end.”

The last days of Thomson’s race don’t look like they are going to be easy. He will face heavy weather in the busy shipping lanes of the Bay of Biscay. It’s the equivalent of leaving the open road and sailing blind and fast into a three-dimensional congested super highway. There is no rest for the British skipper, as he will have to keep his wits about him as he negotiates the extreme weather conditions, manages the galloping steed and avoids collision. He’ll be nursing the boat indeed as the pressure mounts to an exciting conclusion and the potential British podium place in this seventh edition of the Vendée Globe.

Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac Paprec 3) sails at the latitude of Lisbon continuing his journey without a keel to the Portuguese coast. He will make a decision within about 2 days, whether it is safe for him to continue to Les Sables d’Olonne. Today, on the Vendée Globe LIVE he admitted that 40 knots of wind in the Bay of Biscay would not be safe for him. Pragmatically, he surmised that although completing the course was important for both him and the team it was not worth risking his life.

No peace in the trade winds
Further south, around the coast of Cape Verde and at the edge of the Doldrums are the trade winds, winds of around 20 knots, with big waves to overcome. Apart from the warmer temperatures, the welcome progress is uncomfortable. It will soon become slow and tortuous, from the Azores to almost the entire width of the Atlantic and into the Bay of Biscay. For now, it seems that the sailors have no other choice but to cross a large area of ​​light wind. "We have to find a mouse hole to sneak through" said Dominique Wavre (Mirabaud) this morning on the French Vendée Globe LIVE. “We need there to be one!”

In this 79th day of racing, there are still three competitors in the South Atlantic, Tanguy de Lamotte (Initiatives Cœur), Alessandro Di Benedetto (Team Plastique) and Bertrand De Broc (Votre Nom Autour du Monde avec EDM). However, Bertrand De Broc (Votre Nom Autour du Monde avec EDM) is not very far from the equator it should cross it tonight.