It’s a Cape Horn Christmas cracker for leader Richomme

Richomme certainly owes part of his record to the electric pace forced on him by his closest rival Charlie Dalin  (MACIF Santé Prévoyance) who passed the Horn only 9 minutes and 30 seconds behind, both blessed by a Pacific which really opened up ahead of them – in terms of favourable winds and wave patterns. Having passed both Capes of the course in front it was clearly a source of some chagrin to be denied the hat trick by his nemesis Richomme. 

The PAPREC ARKÉA skipper was ecstatic to pass so close to the Cape on his first ever passage, “So cool! What an absolutely amazing moment! So much excitement to pass the Horn. I never imagined I would pass it in conditions like that. There were 15 knots of wind, the swell pushing us. I passed close, what… two miles off?. My God, it was majestic! It was so cool! To see the whole chain of snow-capped mountains. So happy, so proud of myself and the whole team. It’s really a great reward to pass Cape Horn, and in the lead no less. The big job is done. All that’s left is the climb back up. That in itself is going to be exceptional but now, the moment deserves to be savoured. It’s so beautiful.” 

But between them the Christmas Eve double act sets up what promises to be the most intriguing, engaging ascent of the Atlantic, one which could still be won or lost on one tack or gybe, or an escape from the many transition zones which are expected. If the duo can escape an area of high pressure and light winds to their west which is herding them northwards along the ice exclusion zone the weather looks set to be another gift and some routings have them at the latitude of Rio at the end of the weekend. 

“To date, the scenarios for the Atlantic ascent are quite promising for the leaders", confirmed Christian Dumard, weather consultant for the event, whose routings suggest an Equator crossing into the Northern Hemisphere as early as January 4th. 

Simon’s Christmas Cape

Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil) is more than 600 mile behind in third and should round his first Cape Horn early Christmas Day to escape into the Atlantic with a podium position he can hope to keep to the finish with fourth placed Thomas Ruyant (VULNERABLE) the best part of 1000 miles back from him. 

“I can’t wait!” said the sailor from Les Sables d’Olonne who is as excited to leave the Big South “I can’t wait to leave the Southern Ocean and head back to the Atlantic. Rounding the Horn is a huge milestone. It means we’ve completed two thirds of the course. Rounding Cape Horn on Christmas Day is not given to everyone. It’s pretty cool and it’ll also take away some of the emotion and sadness of not being with my loved ones and family. I’m going to enjoy it all the more!”

Opinions are, as ever divided what lead can be considered ‘safe’. After stopping to repair on the top of his mast in the lee of Macquarie Island on the last edition Louis Burton came back from a 1000 miles deficit to finish on the podium. And on that same 2020-21 race clear leader Yannick Bestaven lost 400 miles to Charlie Dalin when he became stuck in a high pressure ridge off the Brazilian coast. So nothing is cut and dried! 

Bestaven drops 

The Christmas grinch visited the title holder Bestaven who lost his Code Zero in the sea when a halyard system gave way. He spent two hours retrieving the sail out of the Pacific and between the time lost and being unable to use the key, big sail has dropped to 11th whilst Germany’s Boris Herrmann (Malizia Seaexplorer) is now in seventh, the highest position he has held since the North Atlantic, and Briton Sam Goodchild (VULNERABLE) is up to eighth. 

Making the best of it

Otherwise the skippers make the best they can of Christmas on the race course. Modern satellite internet systems mean connections with the friends and families can be extended if wanted. Some prefer to maintain their bubble. A small plastic tree here, a few garlands of tinsel here and there... On board the boats, the decoration is spartan but enough to brighten up this particular period a little. "It lifts your spirits," said Romain Attanasio (Fortinet – Best Western) who, like many others and with his usual self-deprecating  humour donned a full Santa Claus outfit. "I admit that I had a little moment of loneliness this morning but I'm starting to receive a lot of messages from those close to me. They make me feel good! added the sailor, whose Christmas Eve promises to be improved by a meal made by Michelin-starred chef, accompanied by a small piece of foie gras delicately placed on a Krisproll. A real feast fit for a king!

This should give him a boost in his tussle with Damien Seguin (Groupe APICIL), who is constantly getting closer to his transom. "The wind is a bit unstable. I feel like I never have the right sail combo," lamented Attanasio who is hanging on, however, boosted by the prospect of rounding Cape Horn in a full week's time for him with possibly 50 knots of wind if the forecast is confirmed. 

"It has time to change ten times between now and then. What is certain is that I would like to take advantage of conditions as incredible as those enjoyed by Yoann and Charlie last night," sighed Attanasio who is not the only one to dream of being where the two leaders are. "It seems crazy to imagine that they are already back in the Atlantic when I'm barely in the Pacific, near Macquarie Island! It's crazy! commented Sébastien Marsset (Foussier), who is still fighting in the group of daggerboard boats.