December 2… The head of the fleet doubled this weekend on the 1st cap of this round the world race. The Vendée Globe sailors, who were suffocating from heat last week, have been wearing polar and waxed boats. The sea, the light... everything has changed. The skipper Fives Group – Lantana Environnement is this morning south of the latitude of Bonne Espérance. Just a few dozen miles behind him, his first depression in the South Seas…
In a few hours, Louis will enter what sailors call "the train of depressions" of these southern zones where no relief disturbs these whirlwinds. Where the swell, above all, meets no land. Nothing to break these walls of water that swell and flourish without hindrance all around the Antarctic.
Let’s go!
It is this universe that the skipper Normand is about to discover. It is this wild and austere flow that he came to seek. It’s off for about 4 weeks of grey, cold, gales, probably also galleys and wonders certainly. It’s a month of December he will probably never forget.
I’m doing with what I have
At 7 am this morning, the Imoca Fives Group – Lantana Environnement is in 28th position, 6th of the dinghies. As he had announced, his spis failed him at the end of this descent from the Atlantic that he had negotiated so well. He lost contact with the first Imoca dinghies. “That’s how I deal with what I have. I will now go on my way and we will see what it looks like at the end,” Louis announced yesterday, already fully focused on what he is preparing to live and negotiate.
Moving from one car to another
Yesterday, it positioned itself south enough to seek more powerful winds, which it should benefit from today with the arrival of this first low pressure system. Then the strategy will be to always be well placed in relation to these wind spirals: in their north, neither too much in the periphery (not enough wind), nor too close to the center (often violent), without being trapped by the calm that reigns between two depressions: Sort of moving from one car to another! A game that Louis particularly likes.
A respectuous and circular sporting event
The Fives IMOCA is an "upcycled" boat. Thanks to Louis, it lives a 2nd life!
Louis and his team gave a new life to a very damaged IMOCA because of a fire. This refurbishment undertaking was a real technical challenge... that succeeded in only 10 months!
Louis and his team continue to apply this upcycling principle and optimization research with a constant effort on sobriety throughout this Vendée Globe program.
Louis is also very keen on respecting everyone's work and giving a chance.
The Fives Group, a major partner in this Vendée Globe program, has been seduced by such commitment and values, as it shares the same values and responsibilities.
Fives, your partner for a more virtuous industry
For over 200 years, the Group has designed the breakthrough solutions and technologies that make industry what it is. From the first railways to the Eiffel Tower, through the spatial conquest, Fives always spearheaded the industry of the future. Pioneering decarbonization, the Group is an unconditional partner of the industry's energy transition. Through digitization, the promotion of a circular economy and the development of new processes and new energy sources, Fives puts its technological leadership to its customers' service.
www.fivesgroup.com