Chinese skipper Jingkun Xu (Singchain Team Haikou) is about 180 miles behind after passing Cape Finisterre last night. He is expected to be around 24 hours behind Ollie on the finish line, maybe a little less but it will be a momentous occasion when ‘Jacky’ becomes the first Chinese skipper to complete the Vendée Globe.
Manu Cousin's morale is rising as lighter winds offer respite
Manu Cousin (Coupe de Pouce) is in 31st place and along with Denis Van Weynbergh (D’Ieteren Group) and Fabrice Amedeo (Nexans-Wewise), this final trio is just starting to negotiate the Azores high pressure which is ridged west-east and is very nearly 500 miles, meaning a few days of complicated, light winds sailing. He was 23rd on the last race in a time of 103 days, a mark he is not going to beat this time, indeed he might be up to a week slower! The 57 year old former motor industry executive, who has been long since adopted as Les Sablais since moving to the town 11 years ago, said last night,
“Since yesterday at noon, my morale has been better. These last few days have been among the most complicated of the Vendée Globe, mentally and physically. The climb up the trade winds was terrible. I feel like I've just come out of a boxing match, completely groggy. We took hits, the boat and I, for four or five days. It was crazy. I knew it was going to be a difficult part because four years ago, it was complicated. Then I had broken the keel ram so I don't have good memories of it. It was with choppy seas, 25-30 knots of wind and the boat slamming every second. An uppercut, a right... really a boxing match. I've done a few combat sports in my life. But now, I have 10 knots of wind. I'm making the most of it a bit because it's been a long time since I enjoyed some more peaceful sailing. These last few days have been really brutal, rough, with a chance of breaking stuff. I know that in a few hours, this lighter stuff will seem difficult."
"we sailors are never happy..."
He smiles, "But, hey, we sailors are never happy: too much wind, not enough, no common sense... In short, it is never perfect and I know that in a few hours I will be pissed off again (laughs). Right now, I am entering a high pressure ridge. Normally it should not be here. It is a situation that is going to be complicated but I am making the most of these few hours. We will have to make sure not to stay there too long because frankly I can't wait to arrive. Routings that give arrivals between the evening of the 25th and the 27-28th. Everything will depend on the time I spend in this ridge. We are really going to have to fight, give it our all again. Not to get caught up in the high pressure system coming up behind but to go up quickly to catch the tail of the low pressure system coming up and go up with it, directly into the Bay of Biscay. There is still a lot of work. I'm going to go around the Azores from the east. I'm going to take what seems the least risky. I can't wait to get there. You can probably hear it in my voice. I feel like I'm talking as if I've been drinking but I'm just totally knackered with fatigue. I'm giving it my all to get there as quickly as possible. I can't believe I'm where I am today after 98 days of racing. I would never have imagined it before the start but I'm lucky to still be in the race.”
