Getting into it

For almost everyone in this group, whether their boats are closer to 100% of potential or handicapped with a sail down or foil damage at 60 to 85% right now they just want to get finished, through the system and safely across the line. 

Thomas Ruyant (VULNERABLE) is in ninth and races without his J2 headsail, “Since Cape Horn we have not had it good at all, we are having more of what we did a lot of in the South Atlantic, sailing close-hauled, in medium winds, crossing a ridge of high pressure all day. It is complicated! My sail problems are handicapping me 15-20%. Normally most of the time we should always be under J2, even in the depression that we are negotiating, it is J2! I am biting my nails but that's how it is, I have to make do with what I have, and it is a little hard to see the speeds of the other boats next to us, that's how it is, Paul (Meilhat) has the same problem. I went to the other side of the ridge and now th front associated with the depression that will take us to Cape Finisterre! So I'm reaching, in 15-20 knots of wind, with a few squalls, a wind that moves quite a bit, under J3.”

Talking of his physical shape, Ruyant says, “

Ruyant explains, “This depression we're going to have strong seas and winds, especially it's going to end up close at Cape Finisterre. Tomorrow night we could have a pretty serious sea, 7 meters with strong wind, we will have to keep our heads down and watch out for the boat, we can feel that the boats are worn out, it is time to bring them back to the stable, the noises are not the same, the ropes are rougher, the fittings no longer make the same noise, we can feel the wear and tear over time...”

And he finishes, “I was scared several times during this round the world trip, when I was in the heart of the storm, even on land I find it scary so when you come at 20 knots with your boat in the middle of all that, it is a bit like the apocalypse... And then there was a blackout in the Pacific, where I gave myself a good scare.”

Ruyant is ninth, Germany’s Boris Herrmann (Malizia Seaexplorer) in his very compromised state, after losing the use of the port foil, has now dropped to 13th and is heading NW in prudent mode likely trying to avoid the worst of the system. 

Le Turquais moves clear 

In the daggerboard grouping Tanguy Le Turquais (Lazaire) has extended again away from Benjamin Ferré (Monoyeur-Duo For A Job) as they transition into the Doldrums in a light SE’ly breeze. Guirec Soudée is 23rd, “Today, I passed not far from a Brazilian island, about thirty miles away, I could see the island clearly, it was great because often in the Vendée Globe you pass at full speed and you're not out here for tourism, and here I was still able to see land three times, between the Kerguelen, Cape Horn, and the island of Trindade there! It's always cool to be in the sun, unlike in the South it's really hot, I even got sunburn, my back is getting a bit hot! This weekend I climbed my mast for the 7th time if I'm not mistaken! So I can tell you that I'm starting to understand how to make a quick and efficient climb! I took care of my J2, I stuck on several patches, that was the mission because with the heat the sika was drying so quickly! I started with the highest one, I got it all over my hands, all over. The first two patches, it worked, I took the third one out and it fell on the deck, I went down, I went back up, and the last two they didn't even want to stick anymore because the sika had already dried so much, that's the game... The boats in front are quite far away, it seems complicated to catch up with them. Those behind, they seem far away but they have wind and they are going very fast, Kojiro he did 300 miles in 24 hours when I did 120, so he will have to calm down quickly otherwise I will see him again soon! I really don't want to! I Can't wait to get home, even if I am happy to be at sea, don't worry about me!