Cremer expected later today as Beyou struggles in ‘chaotic’ seas (Vendée Globe update 3Feb21)
Clarisse Cremer (Banque Populaire X) should cross the finish line of the Vendée Globe later today to finish in 12th place. As she passes the finish line off Les Sables d’Olonne she’s expected to break Ellen MacArthur’s 20 year old race record of 94 day and 4 hours (as well as breaking numerous male competitors’ personal bests).
She says she is on high alert, especially as she is approaching the finish on a similar course to that of Boris Herrmann who hit a fishing boat at 90 miles from the finish.
“Boris’ story gave me a shock,” says Cremer. “I will have to be on the lookout until the finish, I have crossed the lanes and they were busy and I just had to slow down at one point to let a cargo ship pass. I can see them on the AIS so that’s it is OK just now.
“It will not be easy to slow down in 30 knots of wind so I think I will be under three mainsail reefs only and I will try to accelerate to aim for a finish tomorrow afternoon.”
Big sea and wind conditions are making it tough for Jérémie Beyou approaching the Azores.
“The conditions are not at all funny,” Beyou says. “We have a wind of 35 knots with gusts between 45-50. It’s very variable, there are squalls that you don’t really see coming and there is a chaotic sea, it is really hot.”
Jean Le Cam, Boris Herrmann, Thomas Ruyant, Damien Seguin, Giancarlo Pedote, Benjamin Dutreux, Maxime Sorel and Armel Tripon have now all completed the ninth edition of the race, alongside Yannick Bestaven (first), Charlie Dalin (second) and Louis Burton (third).
Hear from skippers around the fleet
Pip Hare is phenomenally uncomfortable
“I’d be interested to feel how it is in a different boat,” she says. “I’m very much fixed on another few days of this, and then we’ve got some downwind sailing. Eyes on the prize.”
But, she says, “looking too far ahead doesn’t make sense motivationally.
“I feel more like a spare part than I have for the rest of the race. Because the boat’s heeled over at such a hard angle it’s didffcult to do any work at all.
“I’m listening to my favourite music of the 90s and whiling my time away that way.”
Listen as Hare checks-in with organisers (10.30 2Feb21)
Watch as Hare explains why her route is taking her so far to the west, and is sailing an extra 1,000 miles because of moving weather systems. (11.27 2Feb21)
Miranda Merron has crossed the Equator
Merron’s teams says that barely had she crossed the Equator when she began to suffer from erratic wind, and stormy showers.
She says it’s been a “long day and night of random wind, with sail changes. The heavy rain at least rinsed the boat well.” (08.28 3Feb21)
For those missing MIN’s daily coverage of the Vendée Globe, we are keeping close tabs on the British skippers and will share any exciting news as it happens.
