A very excited Alex Thomson who, having completed the structural repairs onboard HUGO BOSS, is back in the Vendée Globe race.
And just in time as the breeze is up and Hugo Boss is headed towards the Southern Ocean!
Charlie Dalin, the Vendée Globe leader, is still struggling in light breezes as he tries to wriggle free from the sticky clutches of the Saint Helena high pressure which now spans most of the South Atlantic.
His lead over second placed Thomas Ruyant (LinkedOut), at 160 miles, and to Jean Le Cam (Yes We Cam!) at 377 miles behind, remains steady as both are mostly following his wake.
But the group lead by Britain’s Sam Davies (Initiatives Coeur) in eighth and Alex Thomson (HIGO BOSS) in ninth look set to make ongoing inroads as they are in downwind and reaching conditions on the west side of the high.
They have a clear pathway in building breezes that should accelerate them south.
Vendée Globe Leaders – Day 19 – Thu 25 Nov – Updated at 21:00 hrs UK
1st FRA Charlie Dalin – APIVIA – 18,788 nm to finish – sailing at 8.0 knots
2nd FRA Thomas Ruyant – LinkedOut – 160 nm
3rd FRA Jean Le Cam – Yes we Cam! – 377 nm
4th FRA Yannick Bestaven – Maître CoQ IV – 529 nm
5th FRA Boris Herrmann – SEAEXPLORER – 531 nm
6th FRA Kevin Escoffier – PRB – 537 nm
7th FRA Sebastien Simon – ARKEA PAPREC – 570 nm
8th FRA Louis Burton – BUREAU VALLEE 2 – 649 nm
9th GBR Sam Davies – INITIATIVES-COEUR – 668 nm
10th GBR Alex Thomson – HUGO BOSS – 684 nm
Other GBR:
23rd GBR Pip Hare – Medallia – 1747 nm
27th GBR Miranda Merron – Campagne de France – 2256 nm
Retired: Nicolas Troussel
