Averaging more than 27kts - on the 0200hrs UTC ranking - Richomme has pulled out a margin of more than 40 nautical miles on second placed Charlie Dalin (MACIF Santé Prévoyance) since yesterday morning with some 740 miles to make to the Horn.
White Christmas for Boris?
Getting more in the festive mood on his Sunday video, with snow and hail falling on the deck of Malizia Seaexplorer, Germany’s Boris Herrmann can reflect on an excellent pre-Christmas week as his impressive recovery into the main peloton continues. Sending video yesterday as they crossed courses in the remote Southern Pacific after seven weeks of racing, Herrmann has now passed the 2020-2021 race winner Yannick Bestaven (Maître CoQ V) – who four years ago was leading Dalin to the Horn - and is up to seventh position. Herrmann’s powerful VPLP design optimised for the big south once more proving its potential. From crossing only a few hundred metres apart the German is now over 40 miles ahead of Bestaven.
Only 20 or so miles behind them is Paul Meilhat (Biotherm) in ninth, contemplating his first solo Cape Horn.
Meilhat making the best of it
Meilhat who had to retire from the 2015-16 race reflects on life in the Big South, not least on his leaks which were letting water into his IMOCA which were making life extra miserable.
“What has been difficult was the unexpected gusts of wind and the repetition of the same weather conditions. The South, it's true it's long. It lasts almost a month. We've had strong winds downwind for a month. Under Australia, there were a few small breaks but since then, there haven't been any. Before Cape Horn, we won't have any, I think. Changing pace, having a slightly flatter sea will do us good. The temperatures that are rising too, but we'll have to wait a good week for that properly , again. I had it a bit tougher when I had my water leak problems. I haven't solved the problem but I have found solutions that allow me to make my life a little easier and avoid really soaking the inside of the boat too much. By actually channeling these leaks and collecting the water, diverting it with things to take it to places where it is easy to pump, etc. I am waiting for better conditions to be able to intervene outside because right now, it is not possible. Life is better.”
“ To be in contact with Sam Goodchild for three or four days has been great. It is great that the Pacific, even if there has been a lot of wind, has been much easier to manage than the Indian. We are taking a more direct route and we are going much faster. I will also admit that not having found ourselves stuck like Sam and Clarisse, it has been good for morale too. Being able to go directly along the ZEA shortensthe route well. And on top of that we might come back to the group of three in front. That would be great. Between Thomas and Justine, it could make a regrouping that could be nice.”
Cornic reflects on a job well done
In 32nd place this morning Antoine Cornic (HUMAN IMMOBILIER) confirms he is recovering well from his ordeal climbing his mast to replace and repair some of his mast track. He has been given a three hours penalty by the International Jury for using his engine while he was anchoring in the lee of Saint Paul island, a relatively standard sanction which he will take in the South Atlantic when he gets there.
Cornic says, “Physically, I'm much better than a few days ago, following my technical stop in Saint-Paul to do my repairs where I suffered a lot banging against the mast. I thought I was safe but in fact it was still moving a lot. I hit the mast a lot. I had bruises all over my body. I'm taking good one-hour naps and I'm starting to recover well from this little ordeal and I'm pretty happy. I'm really satisfied with what I was able to do with the means at hand, thinking about it. There are still some small flaws that will be sorted out. I made a tie yesterday for the mast, because the rail is really too small in section. I have to tighten the sail on the mast so that it doesn't come off and so that I don't lose my ball bearings when the sail is set down.”
He adds, “As we are in the beginning of the depression, I don't need to have the mainsail fully up. It's not a big deal, it can wait. Up top things don’t seem to be moving. I’m very happy and proud to have done that, otherwise, it would have been abandon. Cape Leeuwin is a place where you don’t come across many boats. It’s a bit mythical to think that we’re in the Southern Ocean at 45° South. The winds seem quite strong south of Tasmania. I’m not worrying, I’m taking the days one by one, taking care of the boat and myself.”
