Briton Sam Goodchild (VULNERABLE) is down to seventh Tuesday afternoon 21 Jan, Nico Lunven (HOLCIM PRB) and Paul Meilhat (Biotherm) trading fifth and sixth back and forwards twice today.
Fighting to effect a repair to his torn mainsail Goodchild has glued the two parts of his sail together and this Tuesday morning was adding the strong carbon patches on both sides of the sail which will give the mainsail strength.
He was waiting for the glue to cure before moving on to try and repair or replace his broken battens which are essential for the sail to hold a rigid shape. He is hoping to hoist a repaired mainsail this Wednesday morning.
Over the next few days, the weather is looking tough, and he will head towards the Portuguese coast to have the least possible wind. After that there will be a bit of a lull, and very strong wind for Cape Finisterre and the crossing of the Bay of Biscay.
Fourth placed Jérémie Beyou (Charal) is expected to finish 24 January 2025 between midnight and 8AM.
Christian Dumard, the weather consultant for the event reckons all the group from Jérémie Beyou 4th to Thomas Ruyant 9th, should cross the finish line between Friday evening and Saturday evening.
Briton Samantha Davies is now into 12th place, 1542nm from the finish.
Vendee Globe Leaders at 10:00 hrs GMT Wednesday 22 January 2025
1st FRA Charlie Dalin MACIF Santé Prévoyance – Finished
2nd FRA Yoann Richomme PAPREC ARKÉA – Finished
3rd FRA Sébastien Simon GROUPE Dubreuil – Finished
4th FRA Jérémie Beyou CHARAL – 446 nm to Finish
5th FRA Paul Meilhat Biotherm – 626nm to Finish
6th FRA Nicolas Lunven HOLCIM – PRB – 649 nm to Finish
7th GBR Sam Goodchild VULNERABLE – 740 nm to Finish
8th SUI Justine Mettraux TEAMWORK-Team Snef
9th FRA Thomas Ruyant VULNERABLE
10th FRA Benjamin Dutreux GUYOT ENVIRONNEMENT – WATER FAMILY