january 10, 2025: Vendée Globe skippers under strain as final sprint approaches
On this January 10, 2025, Yoann Richomme (PAPREC ARKÉA, 2? position) reported the breakage of the hook on his headsail (J0), causing the sail to fall into the water. After recovering it, he found that it was torn and unusable. This damage could penalize him in the final days of the race, particularly in the light winds expected early next week. Charlie Dalin (Macif Santé Prévoyance) is still in the lead, and his arrival is scheduled for Tuesday, January 14. Yoann Richomme is expected between two and twelve hours after him. Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil, 3? position) could be slowed by a ridge of high pressure moving up his course, necessitating a realignment. However, his 3rd place does not appear to be under threat, with an estimated arrival between Thursday January 16 and Friday January 17.
Located around 2500 miles to the south, the chasing group are beginning to emerge from a zone of difficult weather conditions. The skippers positioned to the west, Sam Goodchild (Vulnerable, 4?) and Jérémie Beyou (Charal, 5?), have gained a slight advantage. Paul Meilhat (Biotherm, 6?) closed in, while Nicolas Lunven (Holcim-PRB, 9?) fell slightly behind.
Boris Herrmann also explained that he had broken his J2 hook and was working with his shore team to find a solution, since more than 70% of the distance to be covered is covered with this sail.
500 miles further south, Clarisse Crémer (L'Occitane en Provence, 11th), Samantha Davies (Initiatives-CÅur, 13th) and Benjamin Dutreux (Guyot Environnement âeuros Water Family, 12th) are facing a permanent cold front, very unstable winds and thunderstorms.
Driven by the strong winds of a depression, Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian, 18th), Yannick Bestaven (Maitre CoQ V, out of the race), Isabelle Joschke (MACSF, 19th) and Benjamin Ferré (Monnoyeur âeuros DUO for a JOB, 20th) continue to claw back miles on the quartet ahead of them. Jean Le Cam (Tout Commence en Finistère âeuros Armur Lux, 14th), Alan Roura (Hublot, 15th), Romain Attanasio (Fortinet Best Western, 16th) and Damien Seguin (Groupe APICIL, 14th) are all within 500 miles.
Conrad Colman (MS Amlin, 22nd) and Sébastien Marsset (FOUSSIER, 25th) finally got through the depression that awaited them without any particular problems. Louis Duc (Fives group âeuros Lantana Environnement, 23rd), Guirec Soudée (Freelance.com, 24th) and Kojiro Shiraishi (DMG Mori Global One, 26th) were also affected by the gale, while Ãric Bellion (STAND AS ONE âeuros Altavia, 27th), Violette Dorange (DeVenir, 28th) and Arnaud Boissières (La Mie Câline, 29th) avoided the depression. Finally, at the back of the pack, Oliver Heer (Tut Gut., 30th), Antoine Cornic (HUMAN Immobilier, 31st) and Jingkun Xu (Singchain Team Haikou, 32nd) escaped the ice vigilance zone and continue their progress towards Cape Horn.
january 11, 2025: Tense duel at the front, vigilance in the fleet
The battle for the lead continues between Charlie Dalin (MACIF Santé Prévoyance) and Yoann Richomme (PAPREC ARKÉA). The latter has reduced the gap to 140.8 miles thanks to a better position to the west, benefiting from stronger winds. However, management of the Breton anticyclone will be decisive in the final hours before the finish, scheduled for Monday night.
Behind them, the chasing pack, from Sébastien Simon (3rd) to Justine Mettraux (10th), are taking advantage of the SE'ly trade winds to make headway northwards. Boris Herrmann (9th) has repaired his J2 after a strenuous climb up the mast.
Further south, Jean Le Cam (14th) pulled off a strategic coup by escaping into a zone of light airs, while in the Pacific, Manuel Cousin (33rd) and Fabrice Amedeo (34th) approached Point Nemo, under increased vigilance due to icebergs spotted on their route. Éric Bellion (28th), faced with a broken sail, has taken shelter in the Falklands in the face of worsening conditions.
The last few miles are going to be crucial, especially for the two leaders, who will have to deal with fickle winds before completing this historic Vendée Globe.
january 12, 2025: Final duel, abandonment and intense regatta
The Vendée Globe sees another retirement: Ãric Bellion (STAND AS ONE âeuros Altavia) has given up after breaking the forestay shaft on his J2 sail and has taken shelter in the Falklands Islands. He becomes the sixth skipper to quit the race.
At the front, the duel between Charlie Dalin (MACIF Santé Prévoyance) and Yoann Richomme (PAPREC ARKÉA) remains fierce. The gap is 133 miles, but Yoann, deprived of his J0 sail, could be disadvantaged by lighter winds as he approaches Les Sables d'Olonne, where Charlie is expected on Tuesday morning.
In the chasing pack, Sam Goodchild (4th) and Jérémie Beyou (5th) are leading an intense regatta. This group is about to cross the equator and enter the Doldrums, a key stage. Jean Le Cam (14th) maintains his lead over his group, while the skippers face unstable conditions and try to secure their positions as they approach the final stretch.
january 13, 2025: Charlie Dalin on course for victory, suspense in the pack
The tenth edition of the Vendée Globe is drawing to a close. Charlie Dalin (Macif Santé Prévoyance) is expected in Les Sables d'Olonne on Tuesday morning, nearly 200 miles ahead of Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkea). Making the most of light winds, the leader seems to have secured his victory. But caution is still called for, as the slightest error could still upset the outcome. Yoann, penalized by the loss of his J0 sail, continues to fight on, although victory seems to be eluding him.
Behind the two leaders, the battle for places of honor continues. Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil, 3rd) is sailing off the Azores, caught in a high-pressure system, but remains on course for a podium finish. Further south, Sam Goodchild (4th), Jérémie Beyou (5th) and Paul Meilhat (6th) have crossed the equator together and are about to enter the Doldrums, where the slightest slowdown could reshuffle the cards.
Further back, Justine Mettraux (10th), Clarisse Crémer (11th) and Benjamin Dutreux (12th), after a difficult climb back up the South Atlantic, are back in the trade winds, enabling them to gain speed.
Off the coast of Brazil, a compact group of eight skippers, led by Jean Le Cam (15th) and Romain Attanasio (14th), are engaged in a fierce regatta. Unstable conditions are forcing the sailors to constantly adjust their trajectory to avoid wind-blown areas. At the stern, Arnaud Boissières (27th) and Violette Dorange (28th) are struggling to get out of the powerful winds that are slowing them down.
In the South Pacific, only six skippers remain. Oliver Heer (29th) is approaching Cape Horn, while Fabrice Amedeo (32nd), Manuel Cousin (33rd) and Denis Van Weynbergh (34th) are still heading for Point Nemo. These sailors, the most enduring in the fleet, continue to prove that the Vendée Globe is as much a race of speed as it is of endurance.
