Nos jours heureux | Vendée Globe
RACE, NOVEMBER 19, 2024 : Photo sent from the boat TeamWork - Team Snef during the Vendee Globe sailing race on November 19, 2024. (Photo by skipper Justine Mettraux)

A birthday bonus for Goodchild but second Doldrums beckon

Having battled for the best part of three days to the escape Doldrum like conditions which have prevailed in place of the trade winds that would normally have been accelerating the Vendée Globe fleet south at speed, now it is time for the real thing.

Weather report #9 - November 19 | Vendée Globe 2024
Gifts for Sam | Vendée Globe 2024
Tuesday, November 19 | Vendée Live
RACE, NOVEMBER 19, 2024 : Photo sent from the boat Hublot during the Vendee Globe sailing race on November 19, 2024. (Photo by skipper Alan Roura)
RACE, NOVEMBER 19, 2024 : Photo sent from the boat Hublot during the Vendee Globe sailing race on November 19, 2024. (Photo by skipper Alan Roura)
18 NOVEMBRE 2024 : Photo envoyée depuis le bateau Malizia - Seaexplorer lors de la course à la voile du Vendée Globe le 18 novembre 2024. (Photo du skipper Boris Herrmann)
11 Slideshow
LORIENT, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 14, 2024 : Holcim - PRB skipper Nicolas Lunven (FRA) is pictured training on September 14, 2024 off Lorient, France - Photo by Adrien Nivet / Polaryse

Patience mode continues

Patience is a virtue which is being tested for the skippers of the Vendée Globe fleet as they continue to try and escape from a wide band of light and variable winds at the latitude of the Cape Verde islands.

Le jeu de l'élastique | Vendée Globe 2024
Bouée météo déployée | Vendée Globe 2024
À bord de Groupe Dubreuil ce dimanche.

Not out of the woods yet.

Vendée Globe leader Sam Goodchild (VULNERABLE) has seen his lead shrink progressively as the skippers chasing behind him and to his west have held on to wind for slightly longer than he has, the British skipper descending south into light, light airs again.

Weather report #8 - November 18 | Vendée Globe 2024

Discover the official water bottle

Grosses réparations sur Bureau Vallée | Vendée Globe 2024
Monday, November 18 | Vendée Live
Arnaud Boissières lance sa bouée scientifique | Vendée Globe 2024
Ocean
18 NOVEMBRE 2024 : Photo envoyée depuis le bateau DeVenir lors de la course à la voile du Vendée Globe le 18 novembre 2024. (Photo du skipper Violette Dorange)
11 Slideshow
LORIENT, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 27, 2024 : VULNERABLE skipper Sam Goodchild (GBR) is pictured during training, on September 27, 2024 off Groix, France - Photo Pierre Bouras

Good times

As the fleet leaders finally angle southwards and line up with the breeze looking more established again, Briton Sam Goodchild (VULNERABLE) has gained a useful lead at the front of the Vendée Globe fleet. As the race runs into its second week, some 300 nautical miles NWW of the Cape Verde Islands,…

Flash

Sam Goodchild leads again!