Friday 19 February: 5 more at sea
The IMOCA Groupe Sétin is the next boat expected to cross the finish line of the Vendée Globe on Saturday 20th February between 0600 and 1000 hours in the morning. The conditions are likely to be invigorating with 25-30 knots of wind and heavy seas, so she will have to be careful, as the keel of her IMOCA boat is in danger of coming loose and her rudder is cracked from the Indian Ocean.
For Isabelle Joschke and Sam Davies - both out of the race - the watchword is caution, as the two women have to deal with a succession of winter lows in the North Atlantic.
Alexia Barrier continues on her way despite the pain following a shock to the spine. She will now catch the south of a pressure and be able to sail downwind. As for Ari Huusela, he is still as happy as ever to be on this round the world voyage.
Saturday 20 February: Arrival of Manu Cousin
Manu Cousin (Groupe Sétin) arrived this Saturday, February 20 at 8 h 35 min 40 seconds after completing a round-the-world tour in 103 days, 18 h, 15 min 40 seconds. He takes 23rd place in the rankings.
Ari Huusela is trying to make his way through the anticyclonic barrier that is blocking his way, and which could cause him to lose two days. Expected on the line between March 2 and 4, he could finally arrive between March 4 and 6.
529 miles ahead, Alexia Barrier (TSE - 4myPlanet) did rather well. She is now sailing to the north of the Canaries, but in a very westerly position.
So there are only two in the race, and two out of the race to go together. Handicapped by a forestay problem, and with a threatening mast, Sam Davies (Initiatives-C?ur) is making a cautious lead, escorted by Isabelle Joschke, separated by around 100 miles. They were due to reach Les Sables-d'Olonne on Wednesday 24th February.
Sunday, February 21: Almost 25 days since the first ones arrived
Whilst the first competitors arrived almost 25 days ago and are trying to get back to life on land, Alexia Barrier is 1386 miles from the finish line. With her back hurting, she is taking her pain in her stride even though she is unable to stand upright on deck or to hoist any canvas. She was due to complete her first circumnavigation of the world between February 27 and 28, in 24 hours e and penultimate position. She will first have to face one last test, the strong winds that have been raging since the start of the winter off the Bay of Biscay and which are making it difficult to approach the French coast.
Ari Huusela has been tangled for more than 48 hours in a high-pressure field extending off the Canary Islands and is now expected to arrive on 5 March.
Isabelle Joschke and Sam Davies - who both had to retire - will arrive in Les Sables-d'Olonne before these two. Isabelle, in the north-east of the Azores, is due to make landfall a day before her fellow competitor, on 24th February. After passing a font yesterday and a rough ride in the gusts of squalls, she is regaining her strength. She will have to face another episode of strong winds this evening: a huge low is spreading out from the latitude of Iceland to the Azores and should accompany the sailor until her arrival.
Monday 22nd February: Big conditions for the end of the race
Out of the race, Isabelle Joschke and Sam Davies will not be spared these next few hours/days: 35 knots average, gusting to 45 and heavy seas for the British sailor (6/7 metre waves) on 24th February.
Tuesday, February 23: Final stretch
It's the home stretch for Isabelle Joschke who has entered the Bay of Biscay after a windy night at Cape Finisterre. She is due to reach Les Sables-d'Olonne tomorrow, 24 or 48 hours before Sam Davies, who will also have to face one last race: 30 to 35 knots of S'ly wind and 5 to 6 metre high waves.
Less than 300 miles behind Initiatives-C?ur, all is well for Alexia Barrier, who left the Azores archipelago in her wake and was able to gybe without any damage to her back. She's sailing on starboard on reaching in a 25 knot SW'ly flow of 25 knots. She should make landfall on 28th February or 1st March.
Finally, Ari Huusela regained a little speed at the exit of the vast anticyclonic zone which trapped him for almost 72 hours off the Canary Islands. He is once again heading NE'ly at an average of 8 knots. However, the accompanying wind is set to pick up from the right, forcing her to make headway upwind. Her estimated time of arrival was 5/6 March.
Wednesday 24th February: Isabelle Joschke completes her round-the-world tour out of the race
This Wednesday morning, Isabelle Josckhke arrived in Les Sables-d'Olonne almost 108 days after her departure. In spite of her retirement on 9th January and a 10-day technical stopover in Salvador de Bahia to consolidate the keel of her boat, the sailor was determined to complete her first solo non-stop round the world voyage.
Thursday 25 February: 3 more at sea
She'll be the fifth woman to complete her world tour. Sam Davies is approaching Les Sables-d'Olonne, but will have to wait until the channel opens on Friday to enter the Vendée harbour at exactly 13:20.
As soon as it was officially abandoned on 5 December, in the Bay of Cape Town, it announced that it would complete its circumnavigation of the world. And she did so after 10 days of repairs to the two structural bulkheads of her boat, which had cracked after a collision with a UFO.
For her part, Alexia Barrier is in the process of rounding Cape Finisterre and entering the Bay of Biscay upwind in around twenty knots of NE'ly. TSE-4myPlanet is expected in Les Sables-d'Olonne between 28th February and 1st February er march.
Last competitor in the race, the Finn Ari Huusela is heading downwind towards the Azores archipelago. He was due to complete his circumnavigation of the world on 5th or 6th March.
Friday 26 February: Arrival of Samantha Davies
After retiring on 5th December 2020 off Cape Town, Sam Davies finished his round the world voyage off the race by reaching Les Sables d'Olonne on Friday 26th February 2021 after 10 days of repairs. She, who had had the fear of her life and thought she couldn't go back to sea, has come full circle, showing the stubbornness and determination that characterises her.
