Day 65: The advantage at Le Cléac'h
In a big week we'll know who the big winner of the eighth Vendée Globe is. Advantage Armel Le Cléac'h for the moment, but the outcome is still very uncertain, as Alex Thomson is proving to be very catchy. The two leaders have emerged from the Doldrums and nothing is being done more than 2700 miles from the finish in Les Sables d'Olonne. Their minds are being put to the test, their bodies are getting tired... Contacted this lunchtime in the Vendée Live, Jérémie Beyou, in third place, is still in ambush as they approach the equator, while the inseparable Yann Eliès and Jean Le Cam are trying to catch up with Jean-Pierre Dick for a place at the foot of the podium. Behind Nandor Fa, who rounded Cape Horn this morning in 8th place, several duels are taking place in the Pacific, including the one between the oldest and youngest of the Vendée Globe, Rich Wilson and Alan Roura..
Day 66: Duel between Le Cam and Eliès
Anything can still happen! "We're in a really abnormal weather situation" explains leader Armel Le Cléac'h. His lead of around a hundred miles over Alex Thomson certainly doesn't mean the end of the suspenseful match for victory. The outcome is just as uncertain in the duel between Jean Le Cam and Yann Eliès, with 5th place at stake, but a place at the finish as first not yet secured. For his part, Jérémie Beyou, 3rd, crossed the equator today at 14:29 (French time). Tomorrow, Eric Bellion should be the first rookie to round Cape Horn, followed shortly afterwards by New Zealand's Conrad Colman. Behind them, the other eight competitors in the Pacific are benefiting from some very manageable conditions.
Day 67: Can't wait to hit the ground!
67th day of racing... Feelings are mixed. While the joy of being at sea predominates, the 18 competitors still in the race inevitably find the time long and can't wait to get ashore. Eric Bellion rounded Cape Horn this Wednesday at 15h49 (UTC). Conrad Colman will do the same during the night and for the group of four (Boissières, Amedeo, Roura, Wilson), it will be a long wait until this weekend. Right at the front of the fleet, off Cape Verde, Armel Le Cléac'h is increasing his lead over Alex Thomson, but the situation remains complex and the arrival of the frontrunners is expected within eight days. In contact from the South of Tasmania, Jean Le Cam and Yann Eliès don't seem to be ready to separate. None of them will drop a single mile until the finish.
Day 68: Game over in a week
The end is near. In a week's time, the eighth Vendée Globe will have a big winner and a great second. Armel Le Cléac'h and Alex Thomson are holding the line to take on both roles, hoping to win the first one. Jérémie Beyou is holding on tightly to his third place, with a lead of over 400 miles over Jean-Pierre Dick, who crossed the equator at midday and should pass through the doldrums without too much difficulty. After Conrad Colman rounded Cape Horn this morning, ten competitors are sailing in the Atlantic and eight in the Pacific.
Day 69: Last weekend at sea for the leaders
Last weekend at sea for Armel Le Cléac'h and Alex Thomson. "All the way to the end, we'll have to fight!" announced the Breton leader who, caught in a windless zone, saw his lead over his British dolphin melt away. However, the accordion effect is playing to the full and Armel should reverse the trend in the next few hours. But it all depends on when Alex will be slowed down and how long... After Jean Le Cam and then Yann Eliès crossed the equator last night, six competitors are sailing in the North Atlantic, four in the South Atlantic and eight in the Pacific. The next to round Cape Horn should be Fabrice Amedeo Arnaud Boissières on Sunday afternoon, followed shortly afterwards by Alan Roura and Rich Wilson.
Day 70: A road full of pitfalls
The outcome is close for the leaders: in five days time, Armel Le Cléac'h and Alex Thomson will have moored their boats at the Vendée Globe pontoon in Port Olona. Between now and then, they will have to deal with conditions that are as varied as they are complicated. The route to Les Sables d'Olonne is indeed full of pitfalls and far from being straight. The battle for the podium is not over either: even though he is 500 miles behind Jérémie Beyou, Jean-Pierre Dick still believes in his chances of taking third place. Jean-Pierre will also have to contain the inseparable and inseparable Yann Eliès and Jean Le Cam. For his part, Fabrice Amedeo is leading a group of four on the approach to Cape Horn, made up of Arnaud Boissières, Alan Roura and Rich Wilson. Big weather ahead for these four sailors! For the four other competitors still in the Pacific, the route to the Horn is long but the conditions are favourable..
Day 71: British pressure
Less than 100 miles apart! In a perfect ambush, Alex Thomson is putting the pressure on Armel Le Cléac'h. In the intense conditions that he loves, the British sailor is grabbing miles off the Breton leader. To the SE of the Azores, the two frontrunners are engaged in a race of speed, starboard tack, launched at over 20 knots (24 knots for Alex in the 15h rankings!). Their arrivals are still scheduled in four days time, on Thursday 19th January. Conditions are calmer for Jérémie Beyou, who is keeping Jean-Pierre Dick at a good distance. Jérémie seems to be well on his way up the channel in Les Sables d'Olonne in third place... This evening, ten competitors are sailing in the Atlantic and they should soon be joined by Fabrice Amedeo, expected at Cape Horn during the night, followed by Arnaud Boissières, Alan Roura and Rich Wilson. The Horn is no longer a distant prospect for Didac Costa and Romain Attanasio, who should cross it in five or six days time..
