Vendée Globe solo round the world race leader Armel Le Cléac’h (Banque Populaire VIII) passed Cape Horn at 1234hrs UTC this Friday afternoon (23rd December), setting a new reference time from Les Sables d’Olonne where the race started on Sunday 6th November.
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The French skipper Sébastien Josse, who lies in third place in the Vendée Globe, suffered serious damage to the port side foil of the IMOCA Edmond de Rothschild when he ploughed into the trough of a big wave this morning.
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After a fast passage south from Les Sables d’Olonne to cross the Equator last night, the leading skippers in the Vendée Globe can expect the high pace and intensity to continue down the South Atlantic.
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The duel between Vincent Riou and Armel Le Cléac’h at the head of the Vendée Globe fleet has swung in favour of the foiling Banque Populaire VIII skipper Le Cléac’h as the NE Trade Winds strengthened this afternoon 280 miles SW of the Canary Islands, but the leading pair might well be looking in the […]
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The final briefing with Race Direction and Alain Gautier took place this morning. Tomorrow the 29 skippers will set sail at 1202hrs UTC. Ahead of them the Cape of Good Hope, Leeuwin, the Horn, but before that they have a final few hours to spend with their family and to say their goodbyes. Emotions, fears, relief… The sailors tell us how they feel 24 hours before the start.
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Look back to the pre-start period of the last edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre, the two handed Transatlantic race from Le Havre to Brazil two years ago, and there were clear favourites in most classes. But, as the sages constantly remind us, ocean racing is a mechanical sport which is entirely reliant on what the weather and sea conditions deliver. And so there may be pre-race race favourites but there is no such thing as a certainty.
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Kojiro Shiraishi informed everyone at 0230 UTC today (Sunday) that his mast had broken above the attachment for the small jib.The Japanese sailor is not in danger and is busy trying to set up a jury rig. Kojiro is fine and in contact with his shore team to judge the extent of the damage and […]
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Black-hulled Hugo Boss has gained and leads the Vendée Globe out of the ‘Pot au Noir’, the Doldrums by over eighty miles. The British skipper has made 40 miles on the chasing group since this morning.
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Jean-Pierre Dick has just taken the lead in the Vendée Globe. He has been going down the middle in between the other two frontrunners. Alex Thomson is closer to shore, while Armel Le Cléac’h is further out to sea. The wind is weakening and boat speeds are falling. Many of the skippers are hoping to make the most of these conditions to narrow the gap.
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French sailor Armel Le Cleac’h crossed the finish line of The Transat bakerly off New York today at 11:27 local time (16:27 BST), taking honours in the IMOCA 60 class.
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