Vendée Globe

Benoit Parnaudeau (Max Havelaar-Best Western) is about to loop his first Vendée Globe loop. He is expected to cross the finish line here in Les Sables d’Olonne at the beginning of the afternoon after 116 days at sea. His last tack towards the Vendée port is proving far from easy though, the strong N’ly wind laden with snow and creating difficult seas. Benoît has been struggling through the squalls for several days and the welcome for this former shore crew to the legendary French sailor Isabelle Autissier, as well as Didier Munduteguy, will be richly deserved.

600 miles from Les Sables d’Olonne, Anne Liardet (Roxy) is making for Cape Finisterre on port tack. The NE’ly wind is building and Anne is preparing to tack to the N in search of a light NW’ly wind shift which would enable her to complete her Vendée Globe with wind on the beam, a possible ETA at the finish for Sunday.

Raphaël Dinelli’s (Akena Verandas) jackpot ride to the S of a depression centred over the Azores is reaching its end. After a couple of days of very favourable conditions that gave him both good speed and a good VMG, the wind is set to clock round to the NE, building to 30/35 knots and stirring up heavy seas off Madeira.

Karen Leibovici (Benefic) will benefit from the fine conditions encountered by Dinelli yesterday. A NW’ly wind will give her favourable conditions for racking up some miles and at last a fine day is in store for Karen as she approaches the latitude of the Canaries, 1600 miles from the finish.
Translation Kate Jennings

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