Day 51: Sailing in the Pacific for Arnaud Boissières' group
Business resumed for the six sailors who had voluntarily slowed down to let most of the storm to the south of New Zealand pass. Led by Arnaud Boissières, this very international group is now sailing in the Pacific. Further ahead, Jérémie Beyou is preparing to round the mythical Cape Horn for the very first time: a moment that is bound to be eagerly awaited and which will mark a form of liberation. In the South Atlantic, he will join Armel Le Cléac'h and Alex Thomson, who are continuing their long and strategic climb back towards Les Sables-d'Olonne. After 50 days at sea, the two leaders have completed three quarters of the course.
Day 52: First Cape Horn for Jeremie Beyou
For 24 days now, Armel Le Cléac'h has been firmly at the helm of the eighth Vendée Globe. But his lead has melted like snow in the sun over the past few days. The match is being relaunched at the head of the fleet in a complex South Atlantic. Still in third place, the catchy Jérémie Beyou is having a very special day, as he rounded Cape Horn for the first time in his sailing career. The next to round this mythical cape will be Jean-Pierre Dick, 4th, in two days time. Behind him, Yann Eliès and Jean Le Cam are battling it out in contact for 5th place. But there are other fine matches to follow, particularly in the pack of six riders sailing in the south-west of New Zealand.
Day 53: Alex Thomson grabs the miles
Still second only to Armel Le Cléac'h, Alex Thomson is slowly but surely making up the miles. The two leaders are going to come up against a vast cell of high pressure, which is blocking their path. That should benefit the British sailor, but also Jérémie Beyou, in third place. Jean-Pierre Dick should round Cape Horn tomorrow evening. Yann Eliès and Jean Le Cam will do the same less than a day later. Behind them, Enda O'Coineen is heading towards Stewart Island (to the south of New Zealand) to carry out repairs. Pieter Heerema resumed his race after battling for several days to resolve his driver problems. After retiring, Paul Meilhat and Stéphane Le Diraison will soon be back in port, respectively in Papeete (Polynesia) and Melbourne (Australia).
Day 54: Narrowing gap between the two leaders
The scenario offered by the eighth Vendée Globe will delight fans of suspense. In barely six days, the gap between the two leaders, Armel Le Cléac'h and Alex Thomson, has gone from more than 800 miles to... less than 75 miles.. ! Expected to round Cape Horn early tomorrow morning (French time), Jean-Pierre Dick has also seen his pursuers return: aboard, Jean Le Cam and Yann Eliès should pass the Horn around ten hours after him. Behind Louis Burton, Nandor Fa and Conrad Colman, who are sailing alone in the middle of the Pacific, it is Eric Bellion who is leading the pack of five racers. At the back of the fleet, Didac Costa has resumed his course after resolving pilot and helming problems.
Day 55: Rounding Cape Horn
After Jean-Pierre Dick this morning, it was Jean Le Cam and then Yann Eliès who rounded Cape Horn in the afternoon, in 4th, 5th and 6th position respectively. The next to round the world should be Louis Burton, in four days time. Ahead, Armel Le Cléac'h has regained his lead over Alex Thomson, who is in turn stuck in a windless bubble. This duel hasn't finished keeping us on the edge of our seats!
Day 56: Finishing the Vendée Globe, the wish for 2017
The nineteen competitors still in the race have one big wish for 2017: to finish the Vendée Globe. Now less than 5000 miles from Les Sables-d'Olonne, the two solid leaders, Armel Le Cléac'h and Alex Thomson, have only one goal: to win. Jérémie Beyou and Jean-Pierre Dick want the podium. Yann Eliès and Jean Le Cam are battling to be the first classic daggerboard boat at the finish... Behind them, many would be content to make their way back up the channel in Les Sables, and it doesn't matter where they are. Indeed completing the solo round the world race is in itself an extraordinary challenge.
Day 57: Enda O'Coineen dismasting for this 1st January 2017
The first day of 2017 began with some bad news: the dismasting of Enda O'Coineen the first Irishman in history to take part in the Vendée Globe. In the lead for nearly a month, Armel Le Cléac'h has a mattress ahead of Alex Thomson. The two leaders are tacking off Brazil while waiting to hit the trade winds. While Louis Burton is expected to be the next competitor to round Cape Horn, competitors are preparing for some sporting hours in the South Atlantic (Dick and Beyou) and the Pacific (Wilson, Amedeo, Roura, Boissières and Bellion).
