On this ascent to the equator, off the open sea of ​​Bahia in Brazil, the sailors have grain, or rather grains, to grind. The wind varies sharply in strength and direction, you have to be on the lookout, one hand on the sheets, one eye to observe the sky, another on the radar.

The seat of the leader, Yannick Bestaven, is not a throne, but rather a rocking chair. All the attention today is on the advance of the skipper of Master CoQ IV along the ice barrier, a virtual line imposed by the Race Direction to limit the encounter of IMOCA with icebergs and growlers.

On the morning of this 39th day of racing, Yannick Bestaven (Maître CoQ IV) took the lead in the Vendée Globe. By succeeding Thomas Rettant (LinkedOut), the Rochelais becomes the 8th leader of this Vendée Globe which, this afternoon, experienced the compensation awarded by the race jury to the baffled solo sailors to assist Kevin Escoffier on November 30.

The skipper of Apivia played fair. His little shift downwind of LinkedOut as close as possible to the small cold front allowed him to touch a little more air than his opponent and thus take the lead of the 9am standings this morning.

Les Sables d’Olonne rocked all day yesterday to the rhythm of the last five finishes. Arnaud Boissières (15th) opened the ball of the day a little before 9am, which ended at 12.57am exactly with the crossing of the line by Pip Hare in 19th position.