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Corentin Horeau holds a 320-mile lead in the IMOCA class
With 380 miles to go, Corentin Horeau (MACSF) holds a 320-mile lead over Boris Herrmann (Malizia 4), according to the standings released at noon on Monday, November 9.
The French skipper is sailing at over 20 knots and can now focus on conserving his resources. This strategy makes perfect sense given the forecast for lighter winds as he approaches the Caribbean.
Horeau expects a lull that could last about 24 hours. He plans to take advantage of his lead to get some extra sleep and tackle the round-Guadeloupe leg in better conditions.
Behind him, Boris Herrmann is ahead of Élodie Bonafous and Sam Goodchild, who are still running close together.
Ocean Fifty: Basile Bourgnon Loses Much of His Lead
The situation is much more tense among the Ocean Fifty boats. Basile Bourgnon (Edenred), who had held a lead of more than 120 miles, now has only about 15 miles to spare over his pursuers.
The cause was the loss of a sail while passing through a tropical depression. This incident slowed the trimaran down and allowed Thibaut Vauchel-Camus and Pierre Quiroga to get back in the running for the win.
Fatigue further complicates the situation. Thibaut Vauchel-Camus reports episodes of confusion linked to sleep deprivation, to the point where he briefly mistook clothes hanging on a hanger for a human presence.
With light winds forecast near Guadeloupe, the top three remain under pressure. The condition of their equipment and the skippers? clear-headedness could be just as important as their route choices.
Class40: Achille Nebout Takes the Lead, but Fails to Pull Away
In the Class40 category, Achille Nebout (Amarris) took advantage of the returning wind to seize the lead. His lead is nearing 20 miles over a group of pursuers that includes Pierre Leboucher, Guillaume Pirouelle, Guillaume L'Hostis, and Robin Follin.
Conditions remain challenging. After navigating through areas of light winds, the competitors must contend with heavy swells and sudden shifts in wind direction.
Pierre Leboucher mentions top speeds exceeding 20 knots under J2, but also the difficulty of maintaining that pace over the long term while sailing solo.
Damage is also mounting. Achille Nebout, in particular, reported damage to the furler on his J2 and to a backstay. These incidents can complicate sail changes and maneuvers.
Further deterioration is forecast, with gusts reaching 30 to 40 knots, before a possible slowdown as the system moves into a high-pressure ridge. The ranking is therefore still subject to change.
The Ultims round out the podium
Following Tom Laperche's victory aboard SVR-Lazartigue, Thomas Coville (Sodebo Ultim 3) and Louis Burton (Armand Thiery) finished second and third, respectively.
Guirec Soudée (Liamm) is in fourth place ahead of Alexia Barrier (IDEC SPORT - CIC), according to the standings released Monday at noon.
In the Vintage categories, Kieran Le Borgne leads the monohulls, while Damien Seguin retains first place among the multihulls.
Finally, Ambrogio Beccaria, who was diverted to Horta in the Azores after sustaining an injury, underwent medical examinations. No fractures were detected, but the Italian skipper is suffering from a severe rib contusion.
Arrivals are expected as early as Tuesday
The first IMOCA and Ocean Fifty boats are expected to arrive in Pointe-à-Pitre starting Tuesday, November 10, weather permitting.
For Corentin Horeau, the challenge is to manage a substantial lead without making any mistakes. For Basile Bourgnon, it?s a matter of defending a lead that has become precarious. As for the Class40s, they still have to navigate several weather transitions.
At this stage of the Route du Rhum, the gaps in the standings tell only part of the story. The condition of the boats and the sailors could determine the rest.
