The depression expected yesterday is currently affecting the boats at the back of the fleet. Good news in principle, except if the winds are not in the right direction…
There are still ten in the Atlantic ascent, braving the elements to finish this particularly tough edition of the Vendée Globe. A small group of six monohulls is approaching about 1,300 miles from Les Sables d’Olonne. In any case, more than half of the competitors have now arrived in less than 90 days of racing, which is a new record. The question now remains whether the last ones will finish under the 104-day mark, the time Alessandro Di Benedetto needed in 2013 to complete his round-the-world trip in last place.
This means that Alexia Barrier and Ari Hussela have 14 days left to cover the last 4,400 miles. But with only 200 miles traveled in 24 hours, TSE-4myplanet might fall short of finishing on time. The estimated arrival date has slightly increased to around the end of the first week of March. Unless the winds finally decide to be more favorable. Because right now, that is clearly not the case. The Maralpine is dealing with a depression giving her headwinds since yesterday morning.
An additional difficulty required a new gybe to head east towards Salvador de Bahia, a city from which Isabel Joschke left port yesterday between Sam Davies and Alexia. Indeed, this ascent of the Southern Tradewinds is long and difficult. A bit like this 2020-2021 edition of the Vendée Globe!
