42 days after the start we are at the Cape Horn turn with daily averages of 600 miles. Giancarlo Pedote – the only Italian in the race – recovers and is in the group between 17th and 22nd place
The battle over pure speed, in pursuit of records, is transforming – at least for the top positions – into a strategic game in the vicinity of Cape Horn, the third fundamental passage of the Vendèe Globe, the solo round-the-world trip. The feeling, six weeks after the start, is that we will witness an incredible duel in the Atlantic climb towards Les Sables d’Olonne between the three Frenchmen leading the race, with a wide margin over the 33 opponents remaining in the race. As we write, Yohann Richomme is in the lead and has taken advantage of Charlie Dalin and Sebastian Simon’s problems in the Pacific. The first suffered damage – resolved – to the mainsail of Macif Santé Prevoyance and was slowed down by the anticyclone zone. The second is working miracles given that he sails without the starboard foil: his Groupe Dubreuil can keep up with the best if the wind comes from only one direction, otherwise it becomes a ‘normal’ boat, albeit competitive.
situation
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With 42 days to go, therefore, Richomme is in the lead with less than 38 miles ahead of Dalin, practically nothing, missing about 8 thousand miles to the finish line. Third is Simon at 346 miles but his comeback appears difficult. Behind us we are detached from the Pyrenean stage of the tour: the fourth, Thomas Ruyant, is 1123 miles from Richomme and our Giancarlo Pedote (19th) at around 3800 miles. There was talk of records: Dalin, once he recovered from the mainsail problem, took the liberty of crossing the Indian Ocean, from the Cape of Good Hope to Cape Leeuwin (the most south-western tip of Australia), in 9 days , 22 hours 27 minutes, at around 18 knots on average, demolishing the record that in 2008 had been established by Michel Desjoyeaux, who French sailors call ‘le professeur’ in as he is the only one to have won two editions of the Vendée Globe. In any case, it is almost impossible that after having rounded Cape Horn the protagonists will be able to maintain daily averages of around 600 miles, as happened in the Indian and Pacific: the entry into the Atlantic marks the end of the Roaring Forties (the ‘Roaring Forties’ ) and usually heralds less windy days. Easily, Simon’s 24-hour record: 615.33 miles (on land it would be 1139.35 km) at an average of 25.64 knots (47.48 km/h). For the record, the absolute record for daily distance belongs to a trimaran – Banque Populaire V – which in 2009 managed to cover 908.2 miles, maintaining an average speed of 37.84 knots. But there was a crew on board and not a loner.
reactions
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After not very brilliant weeks, Giancarlo Pedote – the only Italian in the race – appears to be recovering. In just a few days, keeping daily averages between 500 and 550 miles, his Groupe Prysmian has recovered several positions and is part of the small group from 17th to 22nd place, contained in just 400 miles. “I’m fine, but I’m a little tired because in this Indian there really is never a moment’s respite: I’ve had to deal with a series of violent depressions. It is above all the state of the sea that makes life on board very difficult: every move becomes extremely complicated” Pedote wrote in his logbook. And he added: “Many things can still happen and the failure of Medallia last night reminded us of this once again. I’m so saddened by the news of Englishman Pip Hare’s dismasting (ed., one of the four retirements from the race). I’m very sorry for her, she was having an incredible race up to that point. Ours is a mechanical sport, sometimes it’s terribly thankless.” For the Florentine navigator the realistic objective appears to be a finish within the top 20, with the hope that he will make the right choices in the Atlantic and be able to gain other positions. It is easier for the winner to lower the record time of the Vendèe Globe: the 74 days, 3 hours, 35 minutes and 46 seconds of the ‘jackal’ Armel Le Cleac’h, first in the 2016-2017 edition, are strongly at risk thanks to the trio in the lead.
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