Nothing simple in Vendée Globe

(November 18, 2024; Day 9) – Descending the North Atlantic in the Vendée Globe is typically a sleigh ride of trade wind sailing, but it has been one pothole after another as the fleet seeks passage across rivers of light wind.

The popular routing had the lead foilers sailing hot angles to the west, hoping that early losses would pay off when the wind filled. Conversely, daggerboard boats to the east able to soak south had them climbing up the leaderboard.

In between the two extremes is race leader Sam Goodchild (VULNERABLE), though once again compression is occurring as the British skipper descends south into light wind again nearing the Cape Verde islands.

“Right now I have four knots of wind and I have to make the most of it and try and get myself out of this as fast as possible,” noted Goodchild who finds himself almost lined up west to east with Thomas Ruyant (VULNERABLE) and Seb Simon (Groupe Dubreuil) for a mini re-start.

“The risk in terms position is Thomas Ruyant who is 100 miles to the west, I am just going through this last zone of light winds and after that we should get the closest thing we have had to Trade Winds since the beginning of the race, for a couple of days to get across the Doldrums. It depends on how we get out of this.”

The wildcard is the far east route held by Jean Le Cam (Tout Commence en Finistère – Armor-lux) and Kiwi Conrad Colman (AS Amlin). Both accelerated today in breeze to pass to the East of the Cape Verdes, but race weather specialist Christian Dumard notes how the Doldrums will force them to reposition themselves to the West. “It looks very uncertain and random for them.”

Race updates – Tracker – Ranking – Facebook

Attrition:
Nov. 15: Maxime Sorel (FRA), V and B – Monbana – Mayenne – ankle injury, mast damage

The Vendée Globe, raced in the 60-foot IMOCA, is the elite race round the world, solo, non-stop, and without assistance. On November 10, 40 skippers started the 2024-25 edition which begins and ends in Les Sables d’Olonne, France.

Armel Le Cléac’h, winning in 2017, holds the record for the 24,300 nm course of 74 days 03 hours 35 minutes 46 seconds. Only one sailor has won it twice: Michel Desjoyeaux in 2001 and 2009. This is tenth running of the race.

Source: VG2024, SSN