While the start of the 2016 Vendée Globe benefited from some exceptional conditions, the following days were complicated for the 29 solo sailors with complicated, unpredictable and ultra-strenuous weather. As far as Madeira, they had to deal with some swaying Portuguese trade winds, then a very sticky ridge of high pressure. Light airs and some dreadful acceleration for the skippers, who were forced to remain on deck and not sleep a wink during the first 3 days.
Result: 9 changes of leaders, until Monday 7th November at 1700 hrs when Armel Le Cléac'h took the lead of the race, finally handing it over to Alex Thomson. Up until the descent of the Atlantic in the NE'ly trade winds, the foilers didn't have the opportunity to show their full potential, so Vincent Riou (PRB) took advantage of this to get a good slice of the cake. In this first week of racing, the favourites are in their place, with the exception of Jean-Pierre Dick (StMichel-Virbac), the big loser in Madeira, who was relegated to 11th position. On the damage side, only the Spaniard Didac Costa (One Planet One Ocean) returned to port a few hours after the start due to ballast damage. He has been back in the race since Thursday 10th November at 1230 hours..
There was also damage to the masthead for Tanguy de Lamotte, who was forced to go to Cape Verde to take stock of the situation.
Day 1: Departure from the pontoons and descent of the channel
The 29 sailors taking part in the 8th Vendée Globe left the pontoons in Les Sables-d'Olonne to go down the channel after three weeks ashore. A very emotional moment! They set off at 1302 hours in exceptional conditions, but after less than an hour of racing, Didac Costa, a Spaniard, noticed electrical problems following the tearing up of a ballast tank. The skipper of One Planet One Ocean had to turn around r and return to Les Sables-d'Olonne. The other competitors are making good headway towards Cape Finisterre, with the fleet being led by Sébastien Josse (Edmond de Rothschild), Jean-Pierre Dick (StMichel-Virbac) and Vincent Riou (PRB).
Day 2: Foilers in the spotlight
After some exceptional conditions at the start, the solo sailors have to deal with more difficult conditions... "The first night was awful. The wind increased from 5 to 40 knots. I had a heavy hailstorm. It was hard, because there were a lot of sail changes to make." hungarian Nandor Fa (22nd in the score) told the radio station this afternoon. Conditions which are not preventing Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) and Armel Le Cléac'h (Banque Populaire VIII) from leading the fleet and racing at knives drawn. The head of the fleet rounded Cape Finisterre at 13:00 (French time) and is now beginning its mad descent southwards.
Day 3: Reaching the West
"We're going to get the new wind and I think it's further west..." confided Armel Le Cléac'h, not displeased with his position on the water this lunchtime radio session. The 28 skippers are continuing their descent southwards in slow motion, caught up in the Azores High for several hours now. The sailors are taking advantage of this to get their bearings and recover from their first few days, whilst thinking about the best position to get away as soon as the wind picks up.
Day 4: Unpredictable weather
The sailors in the Vendée Globe are encountering weather that is unpredictable to say the least. The ridge of high pressure is playing with the glue and the sailors are constantly having to review their strategy to get around the high as best they can. "I'm going to gybe during the day and then head out on a long tack towards the doldrums. Even though I've had to revise my strategy since the start of the race, I'm very happy to be where I am." said this afternoon Armel Le Cléac'h on Banque Populaire VIII, who this evening is now making headway at 16 knots ahead of Sébastien Josse (Edmond de Rothschild). On the race zone, everyone isn't ranked in the same boat, which is upsetting the rankings.
Day 5: Changeover
"I tidied up my house after I moved out last night, I put everything on the other side, so I found a lot of stuff!" jean Le Cam said this afternoon. From now on the sailors are preparing to live for several days on this "port tack" (when the wind comes from the left) until the doldrums. The first boats should arrive there between 14th and 15th November 2016. Armel Le Cléac'h, still in pole position, is gradually breaking away from Vincent Riou, who was 7 miles from his transom this lunchtime. It should be noted that at 1230 hours, spain's Didac Costa is back at sea and racing his repaired One Planet One Ocean boat..
Day 6: Gliding in the trade winds
The fleet is heading towards Cape Verde sliding along at full speed in a steady north-easterly wind (20 to 25 knots), accompanied by violent squalls, making navigation sometimes perilous. While Vincent Riou (PRB) is keeping his second place behind Armel Le Cléac'h on his foiler this evening, the British sailor Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) is just back on the leading duo. He is now in third place and is clocking up more miles than his fellow competitors: 428 miles in the past 24 hours. As far as life at sea is concerned, the shower was, in part, the order of the day!
Day 7: Heading for the doldrums
The solo sailors are on their way through Cape Verde, at frightening speeds, sometimes reaching 27 knots at peak speeds! The foilers are giving it their all in these perfect gliding conditions. The proof: Alex Thomson on Hugo Boss has just returned to second place 24 miles behind Armel Le Cléac'h on Banque Populaire VIII. Vincent Riou (PRB) is now third. The conditions encountered by the foilers are favourable for higher speeds than the daggerboard boats. Vincent Riou is third this evening and Paul Meilhat is back down to 7th place. But in the doldrums it may be a different story..
Day 8: Around the pot
Alex Thomson on Hugo Boss, now slowed down, is still leading the fleet in the 8th Vendée Globe, which stretches out this evening over 1800 miles, with Didac Costa to the west of Porto. Since the start in Les Sables-d'Olonne last Sunday, the battle at the head of the race has been raging and should continue to go on with this Doldrums, which could reshuffle the cards. At sea, the sailors and boats are beginning to feel the breakage. Tanguy de Lamotte announced a stopover in Cape Verde to find a solution to his broken masthead. His goal is clear: to stay in the race. Speeds on the speedometer are starting to drop. Alex Thomson, Vincent Riou and Armel Le Cléac'h are slowing down slowly. The doldrums are not far off. Tomorrow morning, Monday 14th November, they will be stuck in it, suffering its squalls, its whims... During the vacations, their tongues are loosened. There have been many departures in a heap! Understand that in this powerful tradewind since rounding Madeira and the pace imposed by the 7 competitors at the head of the fleet, all the sailors are whipping along. And with the squalls, the boats are sometimes out of control.
