Please select your home edition
Edition
495 McKinley Drive Lboard Dec 2024

Vendée Globe Race Monday Update: Law of the Jungle

by Vendée Globe media 9 Dec 16:53 UTC 9 December 2024
Yoann Richomme on PAPREC ARKÉA - 2024 Vendée Globe © Yoann Richomme #VG2024

And after the breakaway... the comeback. As is very often the case in the Southern Ocean, big breakaways caused by one weather system are rarely maintained on the Vendée Globe and today the tables have turned a little more in the favour of those immediately behind the top two skippers, leader Charlie Dalin (MACIF Santé Prévoyance) and Seb Simon (Groupe Dubreuil).

Whilst Dalin - who crossed the longitude of Cape Leeuwin this afternoon - has been slowed to around 12-15kts at times today, Yoann Richomme (PAPREC ARKÉA) and Thomas Ruyant (VULNERABLE) - have been the fastest in the fleet and in the last 36 hours have seen their deficit to Dalin reduced by some 200 miles to a much more tenable 330 nautical miles this afternoon.

Leeuwin and the Lioness

The race leader crossed the longitude of Cape Leeuwin at 14:12:58hrs UTC, after 29d 02h 10min 58s of racing, thereby just missing out on Armel Le Cléac'h's 2016 record of 28d 20h 12m. Cape Leeuwin, the second of the course's three great Capes was named on December 7th 1801 after the Dutch ship Leeuwin (The Lioness) which sailed round Australia, rounding the Cape in March 1622.

But there is little respite in the big south, there are slender high pressure ridges of lighter airs but it seems the lows are relentless. "In theory, I was told that there were ridges to pass between each depression. I find that they are really short, really!"

"In theory, I was told that there were ridges to pass between each depression. I find that they are really short, really!", joked charismatic race rookie Benjamin Ferré (Monnoyeur - Duo for a job), this morning during the official session, adding that he feels the systems are playing a game of Pac-Man with him, the game where a character in the shape of a yellow circle with a mouth swallows pac-gums.

"We're all in single file and we're all getting eaten one after the other," laughed the adventurer turned sailor who has slanted north his route for the past two days to avoid being eaten too quickly.

A learning experience for the baby lions

"The depression we hit south of South Africa calmed us all down, us little Vendée Globe rookies. We wanted to take the shortest route, follow the great circle, but we got hit with 50 knots. Tanguy (Le Turquais) broke his battens, Violette (Dorange) had a scare and I filled the boat with a wave. Since then, we've all gotten back in line!" commented Ferré "In this Vendée Globe, we're all a bit different jungle animals. In the group, Jean (Le Cam) is the elephant. He has an ancestral memory and therefore, intuitively, he knows how to avoid dangers. We are the young, fiery ones the young Lions and we learn as the race progresses."

Learning by doing...

And lion-hearted Brit Pip Hare seems to be truly in her element, pulling back many miles on 15th placed Romain Attanasio (FORTINET BEST WESTERN). She enthused, "It has been a pretty mental night out here. I have a 35 knot average windspeed, I have up to 38-39kts in the gusts, the sea state is 4-4.5m waves. I am quite pleased though as Medallia is going well, it is a big learning process for me, how do you learn to regulate these boats in conditions like this? You can't train here! I am learning a lot, a lot about using the foils, how much to use the foils, so I am feeling my way a bit, and maybe getting a little braver each time, so I am getting a lot of pleasure here, it is all going in the knowledge bank. It is exciting and I am excited to be catching up Romain again, it is great for me. It is just full on! I can't describe it. The noise, the G Force, the intensity, the your brain is working all the time. Trying to do anything at all takes major planning. It is one of the most intense tests you can put a human being through. And we are racing! It is nuts. But Pip is good!"

For the hunters like Ruyant who has been advancing fast with Richomme in 35-40 knots of wind and big seas it is truly relentless,"Since yesterday evening, the conditions have been very hard. You have to be on top of it. The head of the fleet has taken a bit of a lead. You mustn't lose the rhythm. When there is an opportunity or something to take, you have to be there."

And they, especially are up against it. Tomorrow evening, a ridge of high pressure might cut them off and allow Charlie Dalin, and perhaps Sébastien Simon too, to really extend away once again. To be continued...

Find out more...

Related Articles

Some fish and crab may shift further north
New regional models are being developed for the Bering Sea to better anticipate climate change The eastern Bering Sea is a highly productive marine ecosystem, supporting more than 40 percent of the annual commercial fisheries landings by volume in the United States. Posted on 21 Dec
How the 2024 hurricane season impacted fishing
Learn how business owners, marine ecosystems, and recreational fishing seasons were affected The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which officially ended on November 30, showcased above-average activity. It had a profound impact on recreational fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, causing recreational fishers to face challenges and interim closures. Posted on 20 Dec
"Sober Skipper™ Why It Matters" video series
Featuring a diverse group of boating influencers The Sea Tow Foundation™, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting boating safety, is excited to launch its new video series titled "Sober Skipper™: Why It Matters." Posted on 14 Dec
Preferred line choice for pitching and flipping
When it comes to fishing line, the right choice can make all the difference When it comes to fishing line, the right choice can make all the difference in performance and your ability to put fish in the boat. Posted on 13 Dec
DAIWA: New TATULA now available
New versatile TATULA SV100 – with the SV BOOST System DAIWA's new versatile TATULA SV100 – with the SV BOOST System – is now available at dealers nationwide. Posted on 13 Dec
Freedom Boat Club teams up with Savvy Navvy
One of the Club's largest franchise groups in the US loves this navigation app Freedom Boat Club Delaware, part of one of the largest boat club communities in the US, has teamed up with Savvy Navvy to bring easier and safer navigation to more boaters. Here they reflect on how it has helped their boat club members. Posted on 13 Dec
IGFA Walker's Cay Shootout 2025
Inaugural billfish tournament combines competitive sportfishing and conservation in the Bahamas The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) and Walker's Cay are proud to announce the inaugural IGFA Walker's Cay Shootout, taking place April 23-26, 2025, in the breathtaking waters of Walker's Cay, Bahamas. Posted on 12 Dec
47 Molokai Engine Package
Mercury 600hp Verado Outboards Unleash precision and power on the 47 Molokai with an upgraded engine package: twin Mercury Verado V12 600hp outboards. Posted on 12 Dec
Marine Auctions December Online Auction
Bidding to open Friday 13th and will close Thursday, 19th December 2024 at 2pm AEST Bidding to open Friday 13th and will close Thursday, 19th December 2024 at 2pm AEST. Posted on 9 Dec
Climate, Ecosystems, and Fisheries
Climate change is impacting the nation's valuable marine and Great Lakes ecosystems The NOAA Climate, Ecosystems, and Fisheries Initiative (CEFI) is an effort to provide decision-makers with the information they need to prepare for and adapt to changing oceans and climate. Posted on 7 Dec
Savvy Navvy 2024Maritimo 2023 M600 FOOTER