Friday, February 12: Arrival of Pip Hare
After 4 arrivals the day before, Pip Hare in turn reached Les Sables-d'Olonne in 19 e position at 01:57 minutes and 30 seconds, after 95 days, 11 hours, 37 minutes and 30 seconds of racing. She was also congratulated by Jean Le Cam for her incredible race on a 20-year-old boat.
After 97 days at sea, Didac Costa should cross the finish line tomorrow in the late afternoon. To the south of the Azores archipelago, Clément Giraud and Miranda Merron, chased by Manuel Cousin, are approaching Les Sables-d'Olonne in heavy conditions. They have to get around a low to the south of the Azores, which has generated a swell of over 6m.
Alexia Barrier and Ari Huusela have been passed over for the 2 e times the Equator and are now in the northern hemisphere and are expected to close this edition at the end of the month.
Saturday 13 February: 6 more at sea
Didac Costa is expected at the finish line tonight between 7 and 10 pm. Next up will be Clément Giraud on Tuesday, Miranda Merron, probably on Wednesday, then Manuel Cousin, Isabelle Joschke and Sam Davies, Alexia Barrier then Ari Huusela... if the positions remain the same as they have been for several days.
Sunday 14 February: Didac Costa completes his world tour
It's all over for Didac Costa, who's done his two.. e around the world at 20 e place, arrived at 8:47 p.m. on February 13.
There are still 6 IMOCA boats at sea, 4 of which are still racing, Isabelle Joschke and Sam Davies so deserving of finishing the solo loop after their retirements.
Manu Cousin is going to have to deal with some big lows in the Bay of Biscay, just like Clément Giraud, who is expected on Tuesday morning and who has to juggle with big cross seas and a very unstable wind, dealing with constant adjustments.
Monday 15th February: Skippers in solidarity
In this 99 e on the day of the race, there are still 7 skippers in the North Atlantic, heading for Les Sables-d'Olonne: 5 still in the race and 2 to complete the loop after their retirements (Isabelle Joschke and Sam Davies).
Less than 100 days is the goal that Clément Giraud has set himself, as he announced this morning during the radio session. And it's all still possible?! If he reaches Les Sables-d'Olonne before 10:00 am, then he will have achieved his goal.
Sam Davies and Isabelle Joschke are sailing in a less windy zone before attacking the rest of the course in much more invigorating conditions. Both are continuing their adventure by supporting each other and regularly exchange phone calls. In fact, Sam confides that he regularly calls people still on the water to check up on them.
Ari Huusela, who is closing the gap, is currently encountering difficult conditions in powerful and unstable NE'ly tradewinds on a breakneck sea.
Tuesday 16 February: The end of the road for Clément Giraud?!
Clément Giraud completed his run on February 16 at 10:28 a.m. and 31 seconds after 99 days, 8:08 p.m. and 31 seconds. He thus took the 21 e and achieves its goal of going below 100 jours?!
So there are now 21 skippers who have returned to dry land. Slim, tired and confused, they now need to rest. And that can take at least six months, as the race doctor, Jean-Yves Chauve, explains. The bodies are also bruised because of the many shocks suffered throughout the race. Moreover, Alexia Barrier confided that she fell violently and suffered from severe back pain.
Miranda Merron, the next to complete the race is currently encountering some tough conditions on the approach to Cape Finisterre: shipping traffic and low pressure coming in from the west. Manu Cousin is expected on Friday. His keel and rudder damage is making the end of the race stressful. Behind them, Isabelle Joschke and Sam Davies, out of the race, are still stuck on the road to the Azores. Alexia Barrier and Ari Huusela are sailing in the NE'ly trade winds off Cape Verde.
Wednesday, February 17: Deliverance Coming Soon
Miranda Merron is expected to cross the finish line tonight between 11:00 and midnight. She will complete her first solo circumnavigation of the world. Behind Miranda, it will be Manu Cousin's turn to set foot on land during the night of Friday to Saturday. With the problems encountered on his boat, he remains on alert.
Les Sables-d'Olonne is also expecting two women who are out of the race, but who are well deserving: Isabelle Joschke and Sam Davies should arrive next Tuesday, February 23rd. For Alexia Barrier, who is suffering from pain following a fall inside her boat, the last 2000 miles are marked by impatience and resilience.
Ari Huusela, the Finn, also a newcomer to the Vendée Globe, is due to cross the line at the start of March.
Thursday, February 18: Arrival of Miranda Merron
They are only 3 in the race after the arrival of Miranda Merron this Wednesday, February 17 at 23 hours 16 minutes and 51 seconds after 101 days, 08 hours, 56 minutes and 51 seconds. She completes her first Vendée Globe in the 22nd Vendée Globe e place.
Manuel Cousin is less than 500 miles from the finish. He will have to sneak along the coast of Spain to take the edge of the SW'ly low with winds at 35 knots gusting to 45 knots. At 1?667 miles from the finish, in the 15h00 rankings this Thursday, Alexia Barrier, the sailor from TSE - 4myPlanet is fighting to reach the finish, suffering a lot from her back. Around her, the Azores High is currently raging with its very calm conditions.
Less than 300 miles behind, Ari Huusela is also preparing for this zone of calm. Out of the race, Sam Davies and Isabelle Joschke have finally exited the windless zone and are slaloming between the lows. They are due to arrive on 23rd February.
