Fabrice Amedeo skipper of Nexans-Wewise is making progress upwind and this morning was 170 miles east of Les Sables d’Olonne. But to get there, he will still have to make a couple of tacks. “Fabrice is making progress upwind in a north, north-east wind,” says Christian Dumard, the Vendée Globe weather consultant. In his discussions with the race management, the skipper says he expects to arrive tomorrow “early or mid-afternoon.” As background info the channel will be accessible between 4:30 p.m. and 10:20 p.m.
determined Denis is hanging in there
In 24 hours time then Denis Van Weynbergh will be the last skipper still racing in this Vendée Globe. Currently, the Belgian he is heading back up the coast of Portugal. “He is making progress at between 7.5 and 8.5 knots,” assures Christian Dumard. A significant speed given that the sailor from D’Ieteren Group has been racing without a mainsail in recent days. "He managed to get it back up to the 3rd reef but without specifying the system he is using, explains Hubert Lemonnier, the race director. Maybe he is using the halyard he used to repair last week".
In any case, Denis is making miles upwind to Cape Finisterre. “He will be able to ease sheets and get more on to a reach in a SE’ly during the day on Thursday" specifies Christian Dumard. The sailor will then have the wind on the beam until Les Sables d'Olonne. "His arrival depends on his choices in terms of route but also on whether his repair holds or not".
For the moment, the most optimistic ETAs have him arriving during the night of Friday to next Saturday. Hubert Lemonnier, Race Director concludes: "the weather continues to evolve in the right direction since the wind is going to pick up, that could allow him to make a good route". So watch this space…..come on Denis!
