Leaders only 20 miles apart (Vendée Globe update 15Jan21)

Apivia skipper Charlie Dalin, who has led for two days, is just 20 miles ahead of second placed Louis Burton on Bureau Vallée 2. The pair have been consistently quicker than the four key rivals round about them.

It’s certainly a turnaround in fortune for Dalin, who only a month ago had to repair the bearing which secures the foil as it enters the hull aperture on his port side, although he’s now paying a price for not having full use of the large hydrofoil as he tries to get away from Burton who’s racing a 2016 generation boat.

Remaining objective, he says:

“I have to fight with the weapons I have. One month ago I came close to abandoning so I am just glad to be here, but we will be on starboard for a long time for sure and it has already started. I’m not sure we don’t have to tack in the Doldrums because it looks rather interesting and challenging right now.

“I cannot fully deploy my foil, the speeds that I could be at without this compromise are nothing like those I am sailing at now, but, hey let us keep it in perspective because my Vendée Globe could have stopped in Australia or new Zealand but here I am one month on, leading the race. This is just a bonus! It is great! I am very happy and I will do everything to keep the lead and get to the end.”

Boris Herrman, on SeaExplorer – Yacht Club de Monaco, is now up to third place with less than 160 miles to go to pass Recife on the north easterly corner of Brasil. He is just 39 miles behind Dalin and 17 behind Burton. The 37 year old from Hamburg has been quickest of the top group overnight, profiting from his position slightly further offshore (about 30 miles) than Dalin and Burton.

Hear from the skippers around the fleet

Miranda Merron is thinking about Cape Horn

Miranda Merron is finally allowing herself to think about Cape Horn: “I have just under 800 miles to go to Cape Horn and it is a little bit difficult to know what sails to put up because the breeze is building and there is no point in breaking anything now and so I am being a little bit conservative.

“My last time at Cape Horn was 19 years ago when we sailed past on Amer Sports 2 in the Volvo Ocean Race. It is something I have not allowed myself to think about at all until yesterday. It is such a huge objective in this race. I just did not allow myself to think about it and so now I am really looking forwards to seeing it.” (07.04 15Jan21)

There’s no news from Pip Hare today.

Watch yesterday’s round-up from race organisers