Race tightens for leaders as stragglers round Horn (Vendée Globe update 25Jan21)
The entire fleet has now rounded Cape Horn, with Ari Huusela (Stark) achieving this milestone this morning, a mere 22d 11h and 36min after the leader. Huusela (pictured above) is said to be the first sailor ever from the Nordic nations to race round solo, and is a pilot by trade.
Passing the latitude of Lisbon, Portugal this morning, Charlie Dalin is in control of a very tight three way fight at the moment, converging fast with Louis Burton (Bureau Vallée 2) who should be about 30 miles behind when they cross gybes. And Boris Herrmann (Seaexplorer-Yacht Club de Monaco) is some 37 miles behind Burton in third.
Dalin’s latest generation Verdier design with its big foil should be fastest and the 37 year old who grew up in Le Havre, France is the line honours favourite.
Hear from skippers around the fleet in a thoroughly enjoyable update:
Pip Hare has found some breeze
Hare says she’s able to ‘shift along a bit better’.
She’s looking at where she wants to cross the Doldrums. (09.30 check in with race organisers this morning)
But she says she’s not going around the world again without a roof.
This follows an eventful weekend in which she was stuck ‘indoors’ as she’s had a ‘nasty allergic reaction’ to something – perhaps the UV in the tropics combined with the jellyfish sting.
She has a rash which she describes as ‘nasty, painful, lumpy’, which is made worse by being in direct sunlight. (17.50 24Jan21)
Short of knocking up a par of foils with her remaining epoxy and carbon, she says she expects to be overtaken shortly.
Miranda Merron has company
Merron finds herself one of three boats in close competition along the Brazilian coast, along with Clément Giraud (Compagnie du Lit / Jiliti) and Manuel Cousin (Groupe Sétin).
Her team says she’s following ‘the whims of the wind, which swings a lot in force and direction’.
“The wind has fallen completely, and there’s nothing left. The nights are beautiful, with the moon and the stars. I’m accompanied by a lot of dolphins. I can’t get tired of watching them. I’m going to try to film it.” (07.41 25Jan21)
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