Vendée Globe leaders in home stretch

(January 9, 2025; Day 61) – The Vendée Globe leading trio – Charlie Dalin (MACIF Santé Prévoyance, 1st), Yoann Richomme (PAPREC ARKÉA, 2nd), and Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil, 3rd) – are in the home stretch and right now have it relatively easy.

The top two are approaching a ridge of high pressure with lighter winds, 500 miles WSW of the Canaries, but they almost have the scent of home in their nostrils, ticking off the last maritime milestones as they climb north.

“Today, they are getting into in a ridge of high pressure, the wind is slightly less strong (7 to 10 knots rather than 15),” explains Basile Rochut, the Vendée Globe weather consultant. “As soon as they emerge from it tomorrow, they’ll start to hit stronger and stronger winds again.”

The leading duo are expected to pass south-east of the Azores but there still seems a chance the race could be decided in an anticyclonic bubble which is forming around Brittany and could force them to make several tacks down from Brittany – ironically maybe even taking them back past their real home waters – until the finish in Les Sables d’Olonne.

For the moment, it appears the finish for Dalin should probably take place on Tuesday afternoon (Jan. 14), Yoann Richomme is expected a few hours later. Dalin’s lead has opened very slightly and stands at 180 nautical miles this afternoon.

Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil, 3rd) is also making progress in the trade winds. The low pressure system that will give strong winds to the first two will force him to make a tactical choice: either to pass to the north-west, at the risk of being slowed down a little, or to the south-west and be confronted with stronger winds.

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Attrition:
Nov. 15: Maxime Sorel (FRA), V and B – Monbana – Mayenne – ankle injury, mast damage
Dec. 4: Louis Burton (FRA), Bureau Vallée – rigging failure
Dec. 15: Pip Hare (GBR), Medallia – dismasted
Dec. 16: Szabolcs Weöres (HUN), New Europe – broken D2 shroud
Dec. 30: Yannick Bestaven (FRA), Maître CoQ V – steerage 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