The British skipper still has the persistent Beyou on his port side horizon, about five miles off as they make eight or nine knots in gentle airs which should build up progressively today. Paul Meilhat (Biotherm) is 63 miles behind in sixth, Nico Lunven (HOLCIM PRB) a further 30 miles astern ensures the battle for fourth to seventh is a cliffhanger which will go right to the wire.
In theory Goodchild and Beyou should build their advantage as they emerge progressively into the stronger breeze and should then have a better timing for the nasty low pressure which is potentially going to be one of the biggest, most testing challenges of their respective Vendée Globe races.
The deltas between each of them leaves no room for errors or even small technical equipment breakdowns over the final four days and each must now set their own level between trying to preserve or improve on their race position whilst remaining prudent and safe.
In eighth Justine Mettraux (TeamWork-Team Snef) is poised just a further 40 miles or so behind Lunven and reported yesterday that she had a few small technical jobs to complete during this lighter airs spell to be ready to push through the final storm.
As Germany’s Boris Herrmann (Malizia Seaexplorer) continues in his compromised mode after damage to his port foil he has dropped to 12th now behind Clarisse Crémer (L’Occitane en Provence) who, whilst empathising with Herrmann’s situation, will be content to have gained a place which puts her one up on her 2021 results in a much more competitive fleet.
Otherwise all the way down the Atlantic into the Pacific on this first Sunday after the podium is completed winds are modest and correspondingly speeds are low. The trade winds either side of the equator are light and disorganised. Quickest in the fleet is Isa Joschke (MACSF) in 16th at 17 knots whilst, leading the daggerboardists Benjamin Ferré (Monnoyeur Duo for a Job) and Tanguy Le Turquais (Lazare) are not even a mile apart as we head into the 70th day of racing.
It's been tough for her but 23 year old rookie Violette Dorange (Devenir).
