Vendée Globe

11 knots of instantaneous speed for Benoît Parnaudeau, who has covered 220 miles in 24 hours. The yachtsman from La Rochelle is currently 360 miles off Lisbon and gliding along in a south easterly wind, which is strengthening, as the low moves in. He is currently making headway east towards Cape Finisterre in NW Spain, which was still 470 miles ahead at the time of this morning’s positions.

Things are moving along nicely for Benoît (Max Havelaar/Best Western), who is benefiting from a south easterly wind, which will strengthen as the low moves in. Benoît is making headway on the direct route at 10.4 knots VMG at an average speed over half an hour of 10.4 knots! He is currently making 100% use of the distance covered. As he explained yesterday, if he has to finish upwind in the Bay of Biscay, better to reduce the distance left to cover by heading as far east as possible now. The only problem is that he won’t be far off Cape Finisterre, which is feared for its treacherous sea conditions.

Anne Liardet (Roxy) is continuing to glide along nicely and in the right direction. Anne is currently 242 miles west of the Madeira Islands and checked in 372 miles astern of Benoît, who will be the next to finish in Les Sables d’Olonne, in the middle of next week. For the moment, Anne is having to deal with a south westerly, also generated by the low, which lies to her north west. She is experiencing 30 knots according to the charts and 40 knots of real wind. It is the infamous low-pressure area she talked about yesterday during the radio link-up. However, Anne is not easing off, as she has managed to cover almost 200 miles in 24 hours.

Raphaël Dinelli (Akena Vérandas) has picked up a little wind. He covered 116 miles in 24 hours, compared to only 75 miles yesterday, which is an improvement. He has probably picked up the north westerly wind on the other side of the ridge of high pressure. The worst is over, and he should have more pressure on his sails as he heads north. He was on a bearing of 16° at this morning’s check-in, which is a good sign. Will he manage to pick up the flow from the low pressure area above him? We shall have to wait and see.

Karen Leibovici (Benefic) is just 160 miles astern of Raphaël, but it will be her turn to run into the high. She was making 9.8 knots over half an hour, but only 3.9 knots VMG. It’s not looking easy for Karen, who has to battle it out with unstable winds, as things quieten down. While she has been catching Raphaël, now she will see him getting away again. Karen saw this high coming a long time ago, and we can be sure that the sunshine, which is likely to be more present, will recharge her batteries via her solar panels. Every cloud has its silver lining…Karen is currently 533 miles west of the island of Santo Antao, the most north westerly of the Cape Verde Islands.

PGa

Eléments associés

Previous news items :