Yesterday it seemed like there were still two options, but the winner of the 2020-2021 race cautions today “There is no longer a passage via the South.” And that was conclusively confirmed by Christian Dumard, the weather consultant for the race:
“All the solo sailors will logically pass to the north of the system. To go lower in latitude they would suffer in the system for much longer, but also with more wind and more seas and would find themselves upwind at some point.”
Hot potato
The longer route to the north is far from ideal but it keeps them safe from gusts of 65 knots and ten-meter waves but it will extend their course by up to 500 miles, going north of the Kerguelen archipelago. But the leading trio Charlie Dalin (MACIF Santé Prévoyance) - Yoann Richomme (PAPREC-ARKEA) - Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil) seem set to be hit by it as it widens as it advances as they route towards the East, they don’t seem to have a lot of options.
Behind them Thomas Ruyant (VULNERABLE), Jérémie Beyou (Charal), Nicolas Lunven (Holcim – PRB), Sam Goodchild (VULNERABLE) and Yannick Bestaven still have the choice to slant north. "We will still get 40-45 knots, which is strong but ultimately a bit like usual strong stuff in the south", summarised the skipper of Maître CoQ V who is preparing as best he can to deal with the first ‘hot potato’ of his Vendée Globe
"Today is the boat inspection day. Preparation for the heavy weather is underway getting ready to set the appropriate small sails," Said Bestaven who was taking advantage of the modest conditions to batten everything down and prepare. It is very much the same for those who are following behind him who will get the system first.
Roura sets up
"We are now really getting into the thick of things in the Vendée Globe. For us, rounding the Cape of Good Hope is really not going to be easy and at the same time, when I see what the frontrunners are going to get into, I can see that everyone is in the same boat. With a little time lag, we are going to take it hard," concluded Alan Roura (Hublot).
Whilst he is by no means relishing the tough conditions on his robust Malizia Seaexplorer, Germany Boris Herrmann is building confidence and making miles. Herrmann crossed the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope this afternoon at 1433hrs UTC in 12th place but moved up to 11th shortly after.
He reported today, “The sea state through the Agulhas current has been difficult and it has not been easy to keep the boat moving well. I am really not sure what to think about the coming days because between 100% and 90% of polars (potential optimum speed) there are two completely different scenarios. If I am fast and close to 100% I can get towards the east, if I am slower I get closer to the low pressure and maybe even end up upwind and so I am trying to stick to the fast easterly option but I really work step by step because the scenario changes a lot.”
Herrmann added, “We are in 26 and sometimes 29 knots and so this is quite a good wind we are already fast and don’t get much quicker with more wind. But definitely the sea state is key in this part of the Indian Ocean and it is a challenge I am really looking forwards to getting to the east here, to get into the rhythm of the south and building my confidence. There has been a bit of re-start for me, the real Vendée Globe has started and this month of December to make it all the way to Cape Horn for the first of January. I crossed Justine this morning this morning, just half a mile away, and so I gained on her overnight.”
