Charlie Dalin on Apivia has seen his lead cut to less than 100 nm despite getting back to 15+ knots during the day.
Finally blessed with good conditions in the south Indian ocean the peloton, the group which are chasing leaders Charlie Dalin (Apivia) and Thomas Ruyant (LinkedOut) have the best speeds overnight.
They have been making between 19 and 22 knots while Dalin, in an irregular wind flow, has been making just 10-12 knots – perhaps Dalin has been dealing with any technical damage after the big storm earlier in the week.
Ruyant meantime is always lacking power on starboard gybe after losing his port foil.
In the SW’ly breeze the leaders are aiming at the Antarctic Exclusion Zone where they will gybe and then cross he longitude of the Cape of Good Hope on Sunday night.
Yannick Bestaven, Jean Le Cam, Benjamin Dutreux, Damien Seguin, Boris Herrmann, and even slightly behind, Isabelle Joschke and Giancarlo Pedote have been making close to 20kts, although they have slowed this morning.
Back in 20th place, Manuel Cousin (GROUPE SÉTIN) has taken advantage of light wind conditions and worked all night to remove his cracked rudder from its housing and carry out repairs. He should resume his race as soon as possible.
Vendée Globe Leaders – Day 34 – Fri 11 Dec – Updated at 21:00 hrs UK
1st FRA Charlie Dalin – APIVIA – 14,005 nm to finish – sailing at 15 knots
2nd FRA Thomas Ruyant – LinkedOut – 88 nm
3rd FRA Yannick Bestaven – Maître CoQ IV – 101 nm
4th FRA Louis Burton – BUREAU VALLEE 2 – 215 nm
5th FRA Jean Le Cam – Yes we Cam! – 217 nm
6th FRA Damien Seguin – GROUPE APICIL – 219 nm
7th FRA Benjamin DUTREUX – OMIA – WATER FAMILY – 220 nm
8th FRA Boris Herrmann – SEAEXPLORER – 266 nm
9th FRA Isabelle JOSCHKE – MACSF – 305 nm
10th FRA Giancarlo Pedote – PRYSMIAN GROUP – 389 nm
GBR:
19th GBR Pip Hare – Medallia – 2650 nm
23rd GBR Miranda Merron – Campagne de France – 3318 nm
Retired:
Nicolas Troussel, Alex Thomson, Kevin Escoffier, Alex Thomson, Sebastien Simon, Sam Davies, Fabrice Amedo
