400 miles to the SW of the Cape Verde archipelago, the two skippers are sailing in a light E'ly wind, which is certainly light, but rather steady and for the moment more favourable to Armel Le Cléac'h than to Alex Thomson. Banque Populaire VIII averaged 12.1 knots overnight, compared with 10.1 knots for Hugo Boss. In the 0500 hour rankings, Armel Le Cléac'h has a 91 mile lead, compared with 68 miles 24 hours ago.
Both are on starboard tack and are sailing at exactly the same longitude: 29° 57 West. In other words Hugo Boss has no choice for the moment but to make do with the wake of Banque Populaire VIII. Alex Thomson is at latitude 7° 55 North, while Armel Le Cléa'h is sailing at 9° 35 North. The difference is therefore 100% relevant and there are no options to be taken at least for the next 48 hours... or even as far as Les Sables-d'Olonne.
If the skippers of Banque Populaire VIII and Hugo Boss keep up this pace and the weather conditions are favourable, then they could arrive between 17th and 18th January 2017. Armel le Cléac'h, who is taking part in the 3 e time in the Vendée Globe is just one week away from his probable victory, after two places in second place. As a reminder, in 2012, he finished just three hours behind François Gabart, who won the edition for his first participation, after 78 days 2 h 16' 40''. A record that should therefore fall easily, as the title holder indicates. "They're not going very fast at the moment, but as they've got quite a bit of a head start, I think they're going to arrive on Wednesday or Thursday. I can see them coming in between 72 and 75 days."
So Armel the Cleac'h is the next winner? Nothing is less certain, because the next few days are going to be difficult and anything can still happen, as François Gabart explains until you cut that famous line, you haven't won. I said it before the start and I'll say it again today, the Vendée is an elimination race, which can happen at any time. You're never safe from it. I obviously don't want that, not for Armel, not for Alex, not for Jérémie, not for anyone, but they can break something until the last day."
Armel le Cléac'h and Alex Thomson will have to negotiate the NE'ly trade winds until the end of the week. Difficult conditions, which will put the skippers and their boats to the test. They will then have to take advantage of more favourable conditions, before finding themselves back in a zone of calm. So anything can still happen, the skippers may still break something that will force them to abandon or simply be slowed down... Verdict in a week's time!
