Brazilian rhythm is chance to build up for Sunday

In the modest E’ly trade winds, some 60 miles off the coast, it is a chance to stick to an efficient routine, keep trimming for the small changes in wind pressure, and keep the foot down, whilst maintaining the energy reserves for the sprint to the south on the low pressure they should connect with tomorrow. That will be much more intense, choosing when to gybe and stay with the best pressure and angle. 

Dalin has Thomas Ruyant (VULNERABLE) and Sam Goodchild (VULNERABLE) in second and third. Ruyant is about 20 miles behind, Goodchild 30 miles behind. Then there are 55 miles back to Nico Lunven (HOLCIM-PRB) while is with tight group which has only seven or eight miles to Switzerland’s Justine Mettraux (TeamWork-Team Snef). 

Looking forward to Sunday!

Tomorrow, the head of the fleet will finally be able to benefit from the first effects of the depression forming near the Brazilian coast and which should propel them to the Cape of Good Hope. The conventional thinking from Race Direction this morning is that likely the top 16 hope should get the advantage of catching the system. But the back of the leading pack will have to work hard to get it. At the same time, the gaps continue to widen with the rest of the fleet which is starting its second weekend at sea.

"From Charlie Dalin to Romain Attanasio (Fortinet – Best Western), all the sailors have had averages of 16 to 18 knots", reported Race Director Hubert Lemonnier from his overnight watch. Since crossing the equator – which Isabelle Joschke (MACSF, 19th) and Louis Burton (Bureau Vallée, 20th) have just done – the wind and sea conditions have allowed a general acceleration in the trades. All have only one objective: to benefit from the depression that is forming off the Brazilian coast to propel them towards the Cape of Good Hope. “It will form gradually, the first should start to hit stronger winds during the night from Saturday to Sunday,” explains Lemonnier. 

Who will be on time to catch the train? The group composed of Boris Herrmann (Malizia-Seaexplorer, 13th), Benjamin Dutreux (Guyot-Environnement, 14th), Pipe Hare (Medallia, 15th) and Romain Attanasio (Fortinet – Best Western, 16th) believes they will but all have to maintain solid speeds. 

Yoann Richomme (PAPREC ARKEA) is poised in the peloton in fifth, explaining,  "We fell into a windless zone in the afternoon" which explains this regrouping. He too is looking ahead: "The famous depression will allow us to already get quite a bit of South-East on our course and then we will branch off onto the next one. This is the real gateway to Good Hope in fast and rather pleasant conditions again! For the moment, there are few variations, we have few adjustments, it is rather calm, almost monotonous. But it is not so bad! I am looking forward to tackling weather systems that go a little faster. I feel ready for what's next!”

Behind them, an equally intense battle

Meantime the gap has widened between the leading pack and the others. While there were only 200 miles in the middle of the week, the gap is now over 650 miles! And while the leading pack is stretching out, the one still north of the equator is still nicely grouped meaning that the battle there is just as intense. "They should have a slightly less easterly descent, a slightly more central route," says Hubert Lemonnier. Tanguy Le Turquais (Lazare) has had a proper Doldrums experience on his first Vendée Globe and it was trying. 

We weren't spared. It's hard and trying to try to move the boat forward with every cloud. The Doldrums are always a lottery. We won't be able to catch the lead of the first foilers. We'll follow the anticyclone, reaching to catch a small depression. I see us arriving at Bonne Espérance in two  weeks!" Fabrice Amedeo (Nexans - Wewise, 33rd) was the last to come out of the Doldrums yesterday evening. Oliver Heer (Tut gut) and Denis Van Weynbergh (D'Ieteren Group) are still stuck there. For his part, Szabolcs Weöres (New Europe) is attacking the rounding of Cape Verde. This Saturday morning, the Hungarian skipper was nearly 1,500 miles (809 km) behind the head of the fleet.