Day 16: Two more solo sailors in the northern hemisphere
The seven leaders are racing down the Atlantic at high speed with their sights set on the Cape of Good Hope, which they should reach in four days time to shatter the record set four years ago. Alex Thomson continues to lead the fleet, even without a starboard foil, and is stabilising the gap with Armel le Cléac'h and Sébastien Josse. Further back, we're gnawing at the brakes and we're taking our time. A few laborious days lie ahead before we make the "useful route" towards Good Hope. The gaps are such that all the chasers are not in the same boat. The other competitors are no longer benefiting from this favourable speed regime. They have to go around a vast zone of high pressure and therefore not very windy. Further back, we were worried about the trajectory of Alan Roura (La Fabrique), who is getting closer to the Brazilian coast (to catch the 3 G, because of communication problems). After passing the Irish skipper's equator, there are only two competitors left in the northern hemisphere, Sébastien Destremau (TechnoFirst-faceOcean) and Didac Costa (One Planet One Ocean).
Day 17: Vincent Riou abandons on PRB
The bad news of the day came from Vincent Riou, the only former winner at the start, following a clash with a UFO, has no choice but to give up . The "seven mercenaries" are now only six. Alex Thomson, Sébastien Josse and Armel Le Cléac'h continue to make headway in front of a front that has "eaten" their three frontrunners. As for Yann Eliès, he has managed to slip into his famous "mouse hole", the vein of wind that is enabling him to make headway towards Good Hope. Behind him, we're having to be patient in the face of a high pressure system which is blocking the way. The buffer effect is at its peak and we're seeing a tightening in the middle of the fleet. From Fabrice Amedeo (13th) to Nandor Fa (19th), seven competitors are within 100 miles of each other. And those at the back are catching up..
Day 18: A scattered fleet
The fleet in the eighth Vendée Globe is so spread out that the competitors are facing different, even opposing problems in the South Atlantic. So, when the leaders are finally hoping to be able to breathe in less demanding conditions, those chasing after them have only one thing to look forward to: getting back to steady winds and getting back into double-digit speeds. Still being chased by Armel Le Cléac'h and Sébastien Josse, Alex Thomson could cross the Cape of Good Hope as early as tomorrow evening. Behind them, everyone will be looking to position themselves as quickly as possible in a low-pressure system. For the ten or so sailors in the compact pack, from Fabrice Amedeo (12th) to Rich Wilson (21st), the gradual return of the wind will give the signal for a new start.
Day 19: Record for Alex Thomson at the Cape of Good Hope
Alex has doubled the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope.. at noon today and continues its ride into the Indian Ocean with winds expected to ease. This afternoon, Morgan Lagravière announced a rudder damage on his foiler following a collision with a UFO. Shocks, which are definitely putting the eighth Vendée Globe fleet to the test after Bertrand de Broc and Vincent Riou abandoned the race, and the successive damages to Alex Thomson and Sébastien Josse..
Day 20: Two trios, one solo, one peloton and two stragglers
There is still a long way to go as the Thomson/Le Cléac'h/Josse trio leads the way, and the Catalan Didac Costa closes the way in the 8th Vendée Globe at 3,700 miles! And there are still places to be taken... or lost. The start in the southern seas promises suspense for the leaders, who should soon be entering a zone of light and disturbed winds. While the South Atlantic will be the final stage for the last 15 who are racing at knife-point in a grumpy and capricious weather. As you can see, on this 20th day of racing, the suspense is still there, it's both stressful and motivating for the 26 sailors in the race.
Day 21: Alex still in the lead!
"It's an alternation of light and dark gray. There's not a lot of brightness. The nights have been pretty short for the last few days. Many birds are following Banque Populaire VIII. It's the atmosphere of the forties " Armel Le Cléac'h told Armel Le Cléac'h this lunchtime at Vendée Live. Albatrosses, petrels and other checkers are now accompanying the head of the fleet, which is sailing beyond 42° South. Alex Thomson has taken back the lead in the race since the 12h rankings, but only 12 miles separate him from Armel. The two skippers are fighting it out in erratic winds as they await a low pressure system on Monday, which should quickly take them to the Kerguelen Islands.
Day 22: Armel takes back the lead of the fleet
400 miles from the Crozet Islands (archipelago in the French Southern and Antarctic Territories), Armel Le Cléac'h has just taken back the helm of the fleet in the 8th Vendée Globe. Banque Populaire VIII is surfing on port tack at 20 knots in a strong north-westerly wind, while his rival Hugo Boss, 3 miles away, is making 18 knots on the counter. Along the ice zone, which is closed to navigation, the two leaders are engaged in a merciless duel. Who will overtake the Kerguelens first? The suspense remains intact..
