Breaking records and unlucky breaks
The Portuguese islands of Madeira will be passed later today by the leaders of the tenth edition of the Vendée Globe but while the top boats are looking to stay clear and avoid the substantial lee of the island group, the windbreak effect of the high jagged Picos is set to be used by several…
Szabolcs Weöres (NEW EUROPE) is knocked down, suffers sail damage
Problems mount up for Maxime Sorel who is diverting to Madeira to climb his mast
Nicolas Lunven breaks the 24h solo monohull distance record
A difficult night for Clarisse
Discover the official water bottle
Yo yo go go. Yoann Richomme is on top at Gibraltar
Staying more to the west where he has had more wind and made fewer manoeuvres has allowed Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa) to take the lead of this Vendée Globe as the top group pass the entrance to the Mediterranean, the Straits of Gibraltar, early this morning.
Sam Goodchild steals lead off Portugal
Britain’s Sam Goodchild (VULNERABLE) has taken the lead in the Vendée Globe solo race around the world as the leaders of the 40 boat fleet descend south down the Iberian peninsula. Passing the length of Portugal today, Goodchild -pursued by French ace Charlie Dalin – who is 22 nautical miles behind…
"I wanted to keep things simple. I didn’t feel comfortable with the idea of passing inside the Cape Finisterre TSS with coastal traffic, fishermen, weaving between cargo ships before and after the TSS, likely with a lot of wind and waves, while having to gybe. So I chose a simpler route, even if it meant losing some time, to better utilize the boat’s potential. Unfortunately, I had a small rudder issue just as I was passing Cape Finisterre last night: the tiller arm came loose, and I had to stop the boat for a bit of repairs. I lost some time, but these things happen."
