With high pressure over central Europe the prevailing NE’ly wind means Soudée and those chasing are having to make a lot of northing to find an angle to make upwind to get to the Vendée coast and the finish line. In fact for Guirec he has had only tacked this morning at the latitude of the Brest peninsula. He is expected tomorrow morning at the finish line. All the time the adventurer turned ocean racer is savouring the miles to the line, knowing soon enough it will all be over.
Next group due for a Monday channel bonanza
Five skippers are now less than 500 miles from Les Sables d’Olonne. All are still working hard to find the best, optimum course to the finish line. No one is giving up miles easily and the same urgency to get to the line and finish the race prevails whether that applies to the next skipper in Guirec Soudée (Feelance.com) who is 250 nautical miles to the finish line or Belgian Denis Van Weynbergh (D’Ieteren Group) who is 33rd and still has 4100 nautical miles to the finish and is expected at the end of the month. Guirec should have a Saturday channel and up to four coming up the channel Monday!
COURSE, 06 FÉVRIER 2024 : Photo envoyée depuis le bateau HUMAN Immobilier lors de la course à la voile du Vendée Globe le 06 février 2024. (Photo du skipper Antoine Cornic)
I’ve climbed a little further north maybe than expected to catch a glimpse of Brittany. Once the coast is in sight, I will slowly head back down to Les Sables d’Olonne. After a round-the-world race this is something of a symbolic passage that works for me: seeing this region that is mine first. And so I’m also lucky not to have any competitors chasing right behind behind me!
Guirec
Soudée
FREELANCE.COM
For the moment he has rough seas and headwinds blowing between 35 and 40 knots. “It’s pounding, pounding! It’s really not comfortable and above all, it hurts the boat. At times, you wonder how it’s holding up. These are not conditions where you can enjoy yourself. But time has flown by so quickly, almost too quickly. I know that as soon as I stop and get back to dry land life will resume its frenetic pace, and I will quickly immerse myself in what I left behind. But even with the impatience to arrive, I still savor every moment."
DUC DEALING WITH DAGGERBOARD LOSS
In 25th Louis Duc (Five Group – Lantana Environnement) is trying his best to deal with a major handicap: the loss of one of his daggerboards yesterday, a major setback that affects stability of his boat at certain speeds. He, like others, has changed his routing to now not go too far north because of another big low coming in over Ireland and the Celtic Sea,
Duc says "My obsession is to find the path that will bring me back to Les Sables d'Olonne as quickly as possible. I scrutinize each weather model, each isobar chart and frankly, it's not easy to find the right solution." He is missing some downwind sails, "I try to preserve the boat as much as possible. For now, I’m not thinking about the finish or when I’ll set foot on land, but simply about plotting a the best course ”.
In 27th with 750 miles to the line Sébastien Marsset (FOUSSIER) also talks about his awareness and perception of time
As I stay quite connected to land, I have only partially lost track of time. I don’t remember all the days of the week, but some mark landmarks: Wednesdays I call my children, and weekends, with radio shows that I like to listen to. As for the time of day I try to keep them in mind, both to avoid letting myself go and because the nights are very long. I try to maintain a rhythm. My body is often my best guide. Receiving the weather files, at 7am and 7pm, also plays an essential role in structuring my days.
Sébastien
Marsset
FOUSSIER
Oliver Heer (Tut gut) has had a tough night running into a big cloud which saw him slow to less than 10 knots for many hours, losing precious miles in his match race with JingKun Zu (Singchain Team Haikou). From being over 60 miles ahead of Jacky he is now seven mile behind.
And in 31st 1500 miles behind Heer, Manuel Cousin is enjoying his time in the SE’ly trades “Honestly, I didn’t enjoy myself much during this Vendée Globe. I often felt like I was on a mission, and it really cost me. So, when I find these moments when I am gliding along on the ocean that I still love so much, or moments of symbiosis with the boat, it’s precious”
Ready to take on the Doldrums just ahead of Van Weynbergh, he explained this morning “In a moment like the one I’m experiencing right now, I’m finally reconnecting with sailing, and it feels good. I’m trying to enjoy it, even if the desire to see land and my loved ones again is getting stronger and stronger. I know that there are still a good few days to go before my finish, but I’m trying not to think about it too much”
He adds.
I haven’t completely lost track of the land calendar, because certain dates remain significant. There was Christmas, January 1st, my daughter’s birthday on February 1st… Important moments that mark the race, not to mention the approaching finish date and friends who are arriving or have already arrived. It may seem like it, but it helps to keep some points of reference. However, knowing what day it is is another story. Fortunately, I keep daily contact with my wife.
Manuel
Cousin
Coup de Pouce
