Vendée Globe: furious Richomme goes after Dalin. Disalbera Pip Hare

Perhaps we were giving it up far too early, because Yoann Richomme with his Arkea Paprec has no intention whatsoever of pulling away from the fight at the top for the Vendée Globe. In the last 48 hours Richomme has literally devoured Charlie Dalin’s lead, having also overtaken Sebastien Simon and now seriously threatens the race leader. Luck has also been on his side, because with Simon having an Imoca with only one surviving foil, and Dalin being slowed further ahead by an area where the wind angle was not optimal for advancing on the direct course, Richomme has had the way cleared to force his way back into the game. To give an idea of the Arkea Paprec skipper’s comeback, one need only consider that until about a week ago he was sailing almost within sight of Thomas Ruyant, who is now 800 miles away. What lies ahead southeast of New Zealand, en route to Point Nemo (the furthest point on earth from any land that has emerged), is thus a fierce match race between Charlie Dalin and Yoann Richomme, with Sebastien Simon trying to limit the damage especially when he has a chance, as in these hours, to sail starboard tack on his surviving foil. Dalin’s lead is just 25 miles, after just over a week ago it was over 500 on Richomme. Weather conditions for the leading group in the coming hours will be quite clement, wind around 20 knots and moderate seas, an ideal situation to be able to push the Imoca 60s hard at crazy averages.

Vendée Globe – Good pace for Pedote, dismounts Pip Hare

Quite a different environment for the back group of the fleet, the one in which Giancarlo Pedote finds himself. Over the past few days, the Italian and the skippers close to him have not been spared from the depressions of the Southern Ocean, which have been going on virtually nonstop. Pedote and Prysmian have picked up a good pace, but the Italian has not yet been able to latch onto the top 20 and will have to contend with Jean Le Cam, Isabelle Joschke and Alan Roura, as well as a very tough Tanguy Le Turquais who has been sailing steadily farther south in harsh conditions. Bad news, on the other hand, from Britain’s Più Hare on Medallia, one of six women in the race; the Brit has dismasted and is heading with a makeshift rig to Australia. This is the first dismasting of this Vendée Globe, an incident that marks the end of the adventure for English. From the first information provided by the sailor, the mast reportedly broke in two pieces on the way down from a wave. It would appear it may have been a structural collapse. Pip Hare is sailing at 3-4 knots of speed, it is not yet known exactly at what port she might land in Australia.

The Vendée Globe Trial returns

We will discuss this on Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. live on our Facebook and YouTube channels, for a new installment of our Vendée Globe Trial. Francesca Clapcich will return to visit, our weather coach Gianni Bianchini will be there, with more surprises to come. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAVyfmnLa4k

Follow the Vendée Globe with us!

Follow the Vendèe Globe with the Sailing Newspaper! In the section “The Vendèe Globe Newspaper” you will find all the latest news about the race, while on our Youtube channel, every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., “The Vendèe Globe Trial” (in collaboration with Raymarine, Antal and Gottifredi&Maffioli) goes live, where our experts, along with a parterre de roi of great sailing guests, comment on the great adventure of the solo round-the-world race.

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Vendée Globe trial, Giancarlo Pedote arrives: here’s how to follow the interview live

Mauro Giuffrè