Vendée Globe: Dalin is a fury in the Trade Wind, detaches Richomme and flies to the Equator

Charlie Dalin’s Macif locomotive has put “coal” back in the engine, and in the wake of the blue Imoca 60 the smoke has returned: at 11 a.m. CET on this January 4, 2024, the Vendée Globe leader has dealt a major break at the head of the race. In about 24 hours Dalin trimmed virtually 100 miles off Yoann Richomme, on the starboard side, on the same course as his direct opponent, releasing all Macif’s horses in the southeast trade wind. It was known that in the tradewind conditions Dalin’s Imoca 60 would probably have more speed, and now it is 128 miles behind Richomme, not enough to make the leader sleep easy dreams, but a strong signal. The equator is about 500 miles away, and the two outriders should not be too much affected by the equatorial calms, which are positioned far to the east and not very active, so the transition phase to the Northeast Trade Wind should be fairly quick with minimal slowing. It is 3700 miles to the finish in Les Sables d’Olonne, the race is far from closed and anything can happen, but in this straight phase Richomme can do little: he is on exactly the same course as Dalin, in line practically, slightly downwind to be precise, but with a boat that in these conditions (15-20 knots and moderate wave) is less performing. Realistically it will be not easy days for Richomme, who will probably lose more miles and have a chance to attack perhaps not before the anticyclone zone that is west of Cape Verde. The duel, however, is all to follow and far from over.

Pedote to Cape Horn in stormy weather

Giancarlo Pedote in 19th position is about to round Cape Horn, now less than 500 miles away. The Tuscan does not get there in the best shape, his Prysmian in fact has been troubling him not a little with a serious problem with the rudder movement system that could have jeopardized his race. At this time it is a priority for the Italian skipper to safeguard the boat’s health, given also the harsh weather conditions expected around the Cape, with gusts over 50 knots. Giancarlo Pedote has therefore decided to slow down, letting the ugliest part of the depression slip by, a choice that Isabelle Joschke who sails close to him is also making, and then tackle the passage in easier conditions and with less risk to the boat. Given the technical problems suffered at his Imoca, at this stage for Pedote the ranking probably takes a back seat, and it becomes a priority to preserve the boat to try to get it in good condition to the finish.

Mauro Giuffrè

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