First finisher expected tomorrow – but not necessarily the winner (Vendée Globe update 26Jan21)

After 24,300 nautical miles and more than 80 days of racing around the world in this ninth edition, the Vendée Globe’s first finisher is expected on the line tomorrow afternoon. Computer modelling currently suggests three skippers could finish within four hours of each other.

And with the wind on the Bay of Biscay due to strengthen for those chasing the leaders on Wednesday into Thursday morning, it is still possible that fifth placed Yannick Bestaven can arrive and steal a podium position, and even victory, because of his 10hrs and 15 minutes of time compensation given for his role in helping search for Kevin Escoffier after the French skipper had to abandon his boat.

Today is the day when it will slowly become evident how the two different strategies are going to play out. It looks like the group which have gone north to come in with the stronger breeze, Thomas Ruyant (LinkedOut) in fourth and fifth placed Yannick Bestaven (Maître Coq IV) have taken most of their losses relative to the three leaders – Charlie Dalin (Apivia), Louis Burton (Bureau Vallée 2) and Boris Herrmann (Seaexplorer-Yacht Club de Monaco) and when they gybe today will start to head towards Les Sables d’Olonne hoping to bring in the stronger wind and come in faster to close down the top trio.

“I am in a really black and white scheme, really between stressing myself and just enjoying it,” says Herrmann (pictured above). “All my friends and my wife are telling me ‘come on don’t let the pressure get to you, this is all good. It has been an incredible race, just do your best and enjoy it’.

“There is not so much more I can do. I could try tactically to shadow one or the other competitors but then if you do the math it does not make sense.

” I don’t think there is an option for match racing here. As much fun as it would be it is really like now finding your own lane, using the shifts when they come and stuff like that.”

“It is like the suspense of last page of a good book,” says one fan on Facebook. “The coverage was excellent and very interesting. Discovered great sailors. This whole race keep my mind off the Covid news.”

“I have as much admiration for the first one as for the last one… well done and hats off to all,” says another.

Followers of the race have been glued to the video updates which have come thick and fast, and with riveting content such as Pip Hare‘s daily blogs which never shy away from her joy – and pain.

This race offers a legacy impact for so many, as that video content, amazing images and shared sense of adventure will continue to inspire novices and professionals alike, long after the race is won (and long after the race is completed by all including Ari Huusela who is estimated to have another month to go).

Hear from skippers around the fleet

Pip Hare is enjoying the moonlight

Hare’s enjoying beautiful sailing and finding relief from her skin condition.

“I’m on a delivery back-home,” she says.

“I am outside and it feels unbelievable to have this breeze on my skin.” (08.29 26Jan21)

Miranda Merron is disappointed in the amount of litter

“The surface of the sea for a good part of the day has let me see what’s in the water, and it’s disappointing to see the amount of waste, mostly fishing gear and plastic. I’m far from earth in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, 1200 miles from South America and over 2000 miles from Africa.

“The passage of the anticyclone was quite tiring with very little wind and the direction of the wind in every way. Lots of 1 knots, from time to time 2-3 knots, and when there were 4 knots, it was like Christmas.”

Merron’s team says that today’s navigation is again uncertain and her observation powers will be put to the test as she uses clouds and the sea as real weather indicators. (09.02 26Jan21)

Catch up with the highlights of yesterday’s action

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