Hanging on when it feels harder than ever

But for some throttling back and waiting for the less bad weather will be necessary as Sam Davies (Initiatives Coeur) has reported this morning, 

“I have no choice. What is frustrating is that I can sail to the finish line, but the conditions after crossing the line will be so difficult that it will be impossible to get into Les Sables and reaching another port will be too risky. The forecasts show that it is likely that there will be 40 to 50 knots of wind and so close to the coast it is very dangerous. I have to decide now because after that it will be hard to turn around and waiting here is safer. (Even here it will be rough!) I am so disappointed not to arrive on Sunday, and to extend my race time. But seamanship is the priority and I have to take care of my boat which has almost sailed around the world. Being in a hurry to get in at all costs can cause accidents. Now I have to find another weather window to reach Les Sables safely and it's not easy: for example on Tuesday we have 10m of sea in the Bay of Biscay it's not practical. Race mode deactivated, Adventure mode activated.”

Pushing hard and being rewarded 

In fact, at this precise moment, he is sailing to times identical to those of Michel Desjoyeaux during his victory in 2008. He and the others without foils are pushing the limits of their boats, and especially their own. "It's just permanent tension. I think it's all mixed up in my head. My brain keeps reminding me that the finish is not so far away, and paradoxically, the closer I get to it, the more complicated it is. I try to stay focused and not give up mentally. Physically, I'm also worn out. All the efforts are harder and harder. I think it's the first time since the start of the Vendée Globe that I've felt this way,"

“We are sailing in a very strong trade wind, which does not really resemble a normal trade wind: there is no blue sky, everything is grey and covered in clouds. The wind fluctuates between 23 and 30 knots, but it is above all the state of the sea that is trying. The only way to sleep is to be exhausted and that is what happened to me last night when I collapsed like an exhausted dog on its cushion. We are close-hauled, and for the first time since the start of the Vendée Globe, I can really feel the boat suffering with each wave. At times, the wind drops a little. The boat straightens up, climbs the wave, and behind, it falls heavily. It's like skiing: you hit a bump and instead of falling back downhill, you fall brutally on the flat. It blows your knees apart. Here, it's exactly the same feeling. The boat takes it terribly and, inevitably, the sailor suffers with it. "

Thomas Ruyant in seventh is also struggling with his boat as he gets closer to the finish.

"For 36 hours, it's been quite sporty. On the night of Wednesday to Thursday, we were close-hauled with 35 knots of wind and a sea of ​​5 to 6 meters. It was quite violent, and we really made the boats suffer. I haven't slept much. It's difficult to get to sleep in such conditions. Currently, I have 45 knots. It's quite a rush. Weather-wise, we're well served to finish this Vendée Globe. I would have liked a slightly more peaceful end, but that's how it's been since the beginning! I’m trying not to give up because Justine (Mettraux), who I managed to catch up with, isn’t far away. However, I’m really in a hurry to get there,” he admitted.

Last stretch under tension

For Benjamin Dutreux, "I had quite a few little problems that cost me a few hours of sleep, so I'm a little tired. Currently, I am in the middle of a ridge and I hope to recover a little before tackling the next part, because there are several transition zones on the route. It is a little frustrating, especially since a nice depression is expected on Sunday… and so are we……I admit that I would have preferred to arrive in the sun. The boats are no longer at 100%, just like us. This mix in the routing box produces sometimes incoherent scenarios. But we will eventually arrive, that’s the main thing!”