february 23: Last miles, last battle!
After an interminable wait in non-existent winds, the last three skippers still racing in the Vendée Globe âeuros Manu Cousin (Coup de Pouce), Fabrice Amedeo (Nexans âeuros Wewise) and Denis Van Weynbergh (D'Ieteren Group) âeuros are finally finding some wind and forgotten sensations. With six days to go to the finish, they are close to liberation, but caution is still the order of the day.
Trapped in interminable calms, the sailors went through an intense mental ordeal. But with the return of the wind, they're gliding again, and the horizon is getting closer. "It feels good mentally to have the wind back and to finally be on our way home," confides Denis Van Weynbergh. Manu Cousin shares this euphoria: "Watching the GPS display 15, 16 knots after these days of hardship, it's almost unreal."
Morale may be up, but exhaustion is not. After 104 days at sea, bodies are scarred and spirits tested. Fabrice Amedeo recounts his last exhausting days: "I had to cross a ridge of high pressure before the anticyclone caught me. A whole night at a standstill, it's interminable."
In these last days of the race, simple pleasures take on an inordinate importance: a square of chocolate, a daily call to your partner... But what's missing the most is human contact. "Being alone for so long takes its toll", admits Denis Van Weynbergh.
The last few miles are the most critical. Between uncertain weather and dense maritime traffic, every maneuver must be calculated. Everyone is hoping for an arrival between February 26 and March 2, but nothing is certain. One thing remains certain: land is close, and with it, the end of an extreme adventure.
february 25 : Final push
The last 3 Vendée Globe skippers are entering their final days at sea. Manuel Cousin (Coup de Pouce, 31st) should arrive on Friday, Fabrice Amedeo (Nexans - Wewise, 32nd) at the end of the weekend, and Denis Van Weynbergh (D'Ieteren Group, 33rd) early next week. But there are still a number of hurdles to clear before they touch down.
Manuel Cousin is heading for Les Sables d'Olonne with a steady breeze, while remaining extremely attentive to his boat and the dense shipping traffic in the Bay of Biscay. "The hardest part is behind us, but we have to remain cautious," he confides. Expected on Thursday or Friday, the skipper of Coup de Pouce is on a mission to the very end.
Still slowed by high pressure, Fabrice Amedeo now has to contend with a low-pressure system and then head upwind towards the finish. "Since the Canaries, it's been very slow, but I know I've done the hard part," he relativizes. Despite these complex conditions, he's keeping his spirits high and enjoying every moment at sea.
Denis Van Weynbergh had to carry out numerous manoeuvres to continue his progress, after breaking his mainsail loop. He is now sailing with two reefs, which is slowing his progress towards the finish, scheduled for Tuesday or Wednesday. "We're keeping our fingers crossed," says the Belgian skipper, determined to complete his round-the-world voyage in spite of everything.
The three of them can finally see land coming closer, but there are still a few last efforts to be made before they complete this extraordinary adventure.
february 27: Les malheurs de Denis
While Manuel Cousin (Coup de Pouce, 31st) should cross the line on Friday evening, and Fabrice Amedeo (Nexans Wewise, 32nd) is expected early next week, uncertainty remains for Denis Van Weynbergh (D'Ieteren Group, 33rd). The latter is facing a critical situation. After an initial repair attempt at the top of the mast, his mainsail halyard failed again. Now forced to make headway under headsail only, he's making slow progress, and sees his arrival postponed until after the official closing of the line, scheduled for Friday March 7 at 8am. "I'm under J3 and I'm going like this", confides the skipper, who remains safe on board. His arrival could take place on the weekend of March 9 or 10, or even later.
With 700 miles to go to the finish, Manuel Cousin is making steady progress towards Les Sables d'Olonne. After looking for a northerly wind shift, he's heading back down with a moderate flow and should cross the line on Friday evening. On the other hand, depending on the tides, he may not make it up the channel until Saturday.
Fabrice Amedeo, meanwhile, is battling a strong low-pressure system off Portugal. Faced with winds of 30 to 40 knots, he has to choose between rounding the inside or outside of the Cape Finisterre DST. His arrival, initially scheduled for Monday, could be postponed until Tuesday.
After more than 108 days at sea, Manuel Cousin and Fabrice Amedeo share their impatience to be reunited with their loved ones. "I really miss the human contact," confides Manuel, while Fabrice dreams of a night without weather stress and a real hot shower. A parenthesis that is coming to an end, with an expected transition between the intensity of the race and the gentleness of terra firma.
