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Accelerating towards the Doldrums
On Tuesday, November 19, after days of slower sailing, the skippers returned to high speeds, exceeding 20 knots thanks to the re-establishment of the trade winds south of Cape Verde. This acceleration enabled the fleet to make rapid headway towards the dreaded Doldrums, a zone of inter-tropical convergence known for its meteorological instability. The leading pack, which had been spread out over more than 300 miles laterally, regrouped around a single axis located between the 20th and 25th west.
Jean Le Cam (Tout Commence en Finistère âeuros Armor-lux), at the other end of the race course after opting for an easterly course, is already benefiting from the trade winds and is trying to make maximum gains towards the west. He was better than the other competitors at negotiating the zones of light air that blocked the sailors' path.
Speed record and entry into the Doldrums
After Nicolas Lunven (Holcim-PRB) on November 13, on Wednesday November 20, Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkea) set a new solo monohull record, covering 551.84 miles in 24 hours at an average speed of 22.9 knots. However, this performance was followed by entry into the Doldrums, where the skippers had to contend with unpredictable weather conditions, including violent thunderstorms and variable winds. Sam Goodchild (Vulnérable) was the first to be stopped, quickly joined by his rivals, Sam Goodchild, Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil), Charlie Dalin (MACIF Santé Prévoyance), Yoann Richomme, Nicolas Lunven and Thomas Ruyant, spread out over 170 miles laterally.
The Doldrums, although very active, should not last more than 24 hours, allowing the sailors to regain a moderate southeasterly air flow to accompany them into the South Atlantic.
Thomas Ruyant's strategic comeback
On Thursday November 21, Thomas Ruyant (Vulnerable) took the lead of the race thanks to a more westerly positioning, allowing him to benefit from more favorable winds in the Doldrums. This strategy enabled him to overtake his direct rivals, notably Sam Goodchild (Vulnerable) and Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil), and emerge first from this complex zone. Denis Van Weynbergh (D'Ieteren Group, 37th) still has a day to wait before reaching the Doldrums, as he progresses more than 500 miles from the race leader. Pip Hare (Medallia) has reduced his deficit from 250 to 81 miles, repositioning himself advantageously for the rest of the race. While the frontrunners are preparing to cross the equator, marking their entry into the southern hemisphere - a symbolic passage in the race - the other half still have to negotiate the zone of instability.
