Vendée Globe leader Dalin back across the Equator into the Northern Hemisphere.

His time between Cape Horn and the equator is therefore 12 days, 15 hours, 1 minute and 33 seconds and so he only just misses the best ever time from the Horn to the Equator which was set by Germany’s Boris Herrmann (Malizia Seaexplorer) on his climb back up the Atlantic in the 2020-2021 race at 11 days and 18 hours. Dalin has led at various key stages, Cape of Good Hope (November 29), Cape Leeuwin (December 9), Point Nemo (December 20) and now, today, the Equator. 

In terms of the constant head-to-head match with Yoann Richomme (PAPREC ARKÉA), Dalin has led at these key stages but Richomme led across Cape Horn by 9 minutes and 31 seconds back on 23rd December. 

More than 7,700 miles (14,200 km) separates the leader Charlie Dalin (MACIF Santé Prévoyance) from the 35th placed Denis Van Weynbergh (D'Ieteren Group). Dalin was 123 miles ahead of Richomme when he crossed back into his ‘home’ hemisphere. 

The chasing group, from Thomas Ruyant (VULNERABLE, 4th) to Justine Mettraux (Teamwork-Team Snef, 10th), is separated by 400 miles apart while Jean Le Cam (Tout Commence en Finistère – Armor Lux, 16th) is catching up with Romain Attanasio (Fortinet Best Western, 14th) and Damien Seguin (Groupe APICIL, 15th). Switzerland’s Alan Roura (Hublot, 17th) crossed Cape Horn today for the third time on consecutive Vendée Globes, and Denis Van Weynbergh (D’Ieteren Group, 35th) is preparing to go back in time, having two Sundays by crossing the antimeridian.

Still close and Richomme clawing back miles

This final major milestone of the race sees really little between the top duo. They have now been benefiting from SE’ly  trade winds for two days. "We can see that they are putting some east in their northerly course as they get lifted progressively and so maintaining constant speeds", explains Christian Dumard, the Vendée Globe weather consultant

Most recently In their duel Richomme has been slightly faster than Dalin over the last 24 hours, even if the gap has changed little. After the equator the doldrums should not trouble them too much  during the night. "Overall, up to 500 miles before the finish, the route looks pretty fast", adds Dumard. The winner is still expected between 14th and 16th January. 

Third and trying to suppress the smile 

In third Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil, 3rd) can hardly suppress his smile as he computes his routing now firming up on his course to the finish line off his home port, which will be set on the waters he first set sail on his Optimist as a nipper. The Vendéen, who is progressing on starboard tack up closer to the Brazilian coast, spoke about his third place during the call:

Beyou-Lunven, the end of the ‘love story’? 

Some big moves continue in the group of pursuers, from Thomas Ruyant (VULNERABLE, 4th) to Justine Mettraux (Teamwork-Team Snef, 10th). Two options are emerging. Those who are opting to the East, like Thomas Ruyant, Paul Meilhat (Biotherm) and Nicolas Lunven (HOLCIM - PRB), and Jérémie Beyou (Charal, 7th) who is trying the more Westerly route. Are the Lunven/Beyou duo who have been locked together since the descent of the South Atlantic – to the point that Lunven called it ‘a kind of love story’ - now taking a break? "We have almost done a full round the world together", laughed Lunven during the vacation.

Some 460 miles further South, Benjamin Dutreux (Guyot Environnement - Water Family, 11th) and Clarisse Crémer (L'Occitane en Provence, 12th) are getting into the same weather system. Sam Davies (Initiatives Cœur, 13th) is getting closer all the time, managing to catch up with the duo.

Jean Le Comeback 

A day after rounding Cape Horn for the seventh time racing, Jean Le Cam (Tout Commence en Finistère – Armor Lux, 16th) is about to catch up with Romain Attanasio (Fortinet Best Western, 14th) and Damien Seguin (Groupe APICIL, 15th). These two had no choice but to head West and are coming up against an anticyclone, which is benefiting "King Jean" who looks set to be joining their company in the early part of this week. 

A little further back Roura really enjoyed the pleasure becoming a third time Cape Horner. After having had to battle in virulent conditions in recent hours, rounding this legendary cape was synonymous with deliverance and intense happiness. Contacted on the video call today Roura enthused, 

Franco German Isabelle Joschke (MACSF, 18th) and Italy’s Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian, 19th) have prudently chosen to slow down to let the worst part of a depression pass ahead of them. They have resumed their route this Sunday and are expected tomorrow morning at Cape Horn, in conditions that will still be pretty tough

Sunday, Sunday for Denis Van Weynbergh

Increasingly all behind them are focussing more and more on the forecasts for their route into Cape Horn. A new front is incoming. If Benjamin Ferré (Monnoyeur – Duo for a Job, 20th) looks set to stay ahead of the worst part of it concerns the next group, led by Tanguy Le Turquais (Lazare, 21st). "These should be similar conditions to what Alan had this morning", specifies Christian Dumard. 

And towards the back of the fleet Oliver Heer (Tut Gut., 30th) should arrive in the area where icebergs were spotted and so will step up his vigilance in line with information from race direction. Manuel Cousin (Coup de Pouce, 33rd) and Fabrice Amedeo (Nexans – Wewise, 34th) are upwind then  reaching for a few more days while a depression deepens to the east of New Zealand. This system concerns Denis Van Weynbergh (D’Ieteren Group, 35th) who is time traveling. Crossing the antimeridian he will step back in time to have two Sundays. Sadly for the Belgian that will not mean two lie-ins in the morning!