Many seasoned observers predicted this Vendée Globe might play out as a two cornered tussle between Charlie Dalin – desperate to take the top step of the podium after having finished first in across the finish line on the last edition in January 2021 but denied by Yannick Bestaven’s time compensation – and the hugely talented, meticulous first timer Yoann Richomme, Dalin’s long, long time rival.
Few expected it to be a three sided battle. Even harder to find would be a race fan who would have envisioned Seb Simon to be taking on the highly fancied duo on an boat now with no starboard foil.
But that is the remarkable scenario this afternoon. On Day 37, half way to the 2016 74 day race record, the top three skippers are within five miles of each other (in terms of distance to finish). And, racing in a fitful, freezing 15 knots Southerly breeze at 57 degrees S, today’s new leader Richomme (PAPREC ARKÉA) and Dalin (MACIF Santé Prévoyance) are only two or three miles apart laterally. Les Sables d’Olonne’s Simon (Groupe Dubreuil) is about 70 miles to their north. (Note, at time of publishing this article, Seb Simon had taken the lead from Richomme.)
Same, same
And behind them the group of fourth placed Nicolas Lunven (Holcim-PRB) to Briton Sam Goodchild (VULNERABLE) in tenth are now much more compacted. Germany’s Boris Herrmann (Malizia Seaexplorer) has launched himself back into contention, recovering to where many people would think he belongs – given his recent track record – in among this highly competitive group of top skippers.
@VendeeGlobe
Interested in seeing more Offshore News?
