Another incongruity in this Vendée Globe which definitely defies reason! After 93 days at sea, Stéphane Le Diraison (Time for Oceans, 17th) and Alan Roura (La Fabrique, 18th) are on board, less than 600 miles from the finish.

Shining for nearly 80 days, Armel Tripon still shone at a press conference for having conquered Everest of the seas. It is the same euphoria that “threatens” the 14 skippers still in the race and who, day after day, are getting closer to home.

This morning, after weeks of valiantly battling serious damage, Sébastien Destremau threw in the towel. Merci’s skipper has been heading since this morning to the port of Dunedin, in the South Island of New Zealand, or to Christchurch, which is easier to access and where he will find the equipment to repair.

This Tuesday January 12, 65 days after the cannon shot on November 8 in front of Les Sables d’Olonne, the first 5 IMOCAs are starting a new start.

Since Isabelle Joschke’s retirement last night at 10:23 pm, the 9th Vendée Globe has 26 competitors still in the race, 13 in full swing up the South Atlantic, 13 pining for Cape Horn in the South Pacific.