Vendée Globe

A low-pressure area for Benoît Parnaudeau and Anne Liardet, with the latter passing through violent storms during the night; a fine north westerly for Raphaël Dinelli and a wind hole for Karen Leibovici. The four competitors still at sea are experiencing very different conditions from each other.

Benoît Parnaudeau (Max Havelaar-Best Western) and Anne Liardet (Roxy) have been crossing through a low-pressure area since yesterday evening, where the unstable winds are blowing at 35 knots. Sailing to the north of the low, Benoît had a strong south easterly, which gradually backed easterly. Consequently, the skipper from La Rochelle has been finding it increasingly difficult to keep on the direct route towards Cape Finisterre, which lies less than 400 miles ahead, and he is expecting to be sailing upwind, when he enters the Bay of Biscay in around 48 hours time. Behind him, Anne Liardet had a pretty rough night. Very close to the heart of the low, Anne firstly experienced some very violent thunderstorms, as the cold front passed over. It really pelted down. The lightning was striking all around her 60-foot monohull. Then, suddenly the wind dropped off from 35 to 5 knots. Anne then found herself at the very heart of the low, where there are light, variable winds stopping her from making much headway. This sleepless night spent doing manoeuvres exhausted her once again, and the yachtswoman is remaining cautious, although less than a week away from the finishing line in Les Sables.

Each one in turn

After Raphaël Dinelli (Akena Vérandas), it’s now Karen Leibovici (Benefic)’s turn to be slowed down dramatically by the ridge of high pressure lying in their path, stretching out from east to west. They just have to remain patient and try to get through this 200-mile wide wind hole as quickly as possible. Raphaël has already done that, after 48 hours of being slowed down. The skipper from Les Sables is feeling happier now that the north westerly wind has picked up. His monohull is now covering 10 miles an hour heading directly towards the Bay of Biscay.
LLB

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