In the teeth of the biggest depression seen during this Vendée Globe race leader Charlie Dalin has had a tough night.
Dalin, who has a 285 nautical miles lead has remained composed and focused throughout and reported briefly to his team that all is well on board Apivia.
Foils retracted as much as possible, Dalin has stuck to his plan sailing at 17 knots yesterday evening then 13.9 knots in the storm, forecasted to bring 45 knot mean windspeeds and 50-55kts in the gusts.
In a few more hours he should be through the worst of the storm and it will ease very slowly. Conditions will remain tough but Apivia should have closer to 30 knots of wind.
Behind him Thomas Ruyant (LinkedOut) endures the same battle, Louis Burton is moving better again, third on Bureau Vallée 2, now 80 miles behind Ruyant.
Meanwhile a second depression is hitting another part of the fleet to the south east of South Africa.
Vendée Globe Leaders – Day 32 – Wed 9 Dec – Updated at 17:00 hrs UK
1st FRA Charlie Dalin – APIVIA – 14,655 nm to finish – sailing at 12 knots
2nd FRA Thomas Ruyant – LinkedOut – 230 nm
3rd FRA Louis Burton – BUREAU VALLEE 2 – 295 nm
4th FRA Yannick Bestaven – Maître CoQ IV – 313 nm
5th FRA Benjamin DUTREUX – OMIA – WATER FAMILY – 391 nm
6th FRA Jean Le Cam – Yes we Cam! – 437 nm
7th FRA Boris Herrmann – SEAEXPLORER – 448 nm
8th FRA Damien Seguin – GROUPE APICIL – 452 nm
9th FRA Isabelle JOSCHKE – MACSF – 561 nm
10th FRA Giancarlo Pedote – PRYSMIAN GROUP – 619 nm
GBR:
20th GBR Pip Hare – Medallia – 2609 nm
23rd GBR Miranda Merron – Campagne de France – 3409 nm
Retired:
Nicolas Troussel, Alex Thomson, Kevin Escoffier, Alex Thomson, Sebastien Simon, Sam Davies
