Yannick Bestaven is leading the Vendee fleet through a transition zone of lighter winds this Friday morning just to the south of Macquarie island as the Pacific lives up to its name.
The skipper of Maître Coq has been slowed through the night and this morning is making just 10kts but his margin over second placed Charlie Dalin is a relatively comfortable – for the moment – 100 nautical miles.
Dalin has been second since last night when Thomas Ruyant erred further to the north and has had much less wind but is playing a riskier game, one which – according to Dalin – may yet pay off.
Dalin commented on Ruyant’s move . . .
“I fully understand why he is there. It was an option that required a big investment at the outset but which meant losing ground sailing in light winds, to gain big afterwards.”
Vendée Globe Leaders – Day 41 – Fri 18 Dec – 21:00 hrs UK
1st FRA Yannick Bestaven – Maître CoQ IV – 11,487 nm to finish – sailing at 15 knots
2nd FRA Charlie Dalin – APIVIA – 57 nm
3rd FRA Thomas Ruyant – LinkedOut – 150 nm
4th FRA Jean Le Cam – Yes we Cam! – 348 nm
5th FRA Boris Herrmann – SEAEXPLORER – 362 nm
6th FRA Damien Seguin – GROUPE APICIL – 371 nm
7th FRA Louis Burton – BUREAU VALLEE 2 – 402 nm
8th FRA Benjamin DUTREUX – OMIA – WATER FAMILY – 413 nm
9th FRA Isabelle JOSCHKE – MACSF – 488 nm
10th FRA Giancarlo Pedote – PRYSMIAN GROUP – 521 nm
GBR:
18th GBR Pip Hare – Medallia – 3113 nm
23rd GBR Miranda Merron – Campagne de France – 4009 nm
Retired:
Nicolas Troussel, Alex Thomson, Kevin Escoffier, Alex Thomson, Sebastien Simon, Sam Davies, Fabrice Amedo