What a race! After 17 days of fighting in the North Atlantic, chasing trade winds, at the heart of the doldrums, carried by the south trade winds and, for two days, in a weather puzzle between residual front and anticyclone of Saint Helena, the first 4 Imoca dinghies are held in 12 small miles! 22 km separate them in distance to the goal, on options (west or east) quite marked since the beginning of the race, whereas they have already covered about 4000 miles (7400 km) since the start, last November 10 in Les Sables d'Olonne!
And this ocean regatta is far from over. The 2500 miles (4600 km) that separate the head of the fleet from the drifting boats of the passage of the Cape of Good Hope are really uncertain, the strategic and meteorological configuration being quite unprecedented.
Incredible
The solitaries find themselves trying to slip along a very narrow front in the middle of high pressures (areas without wind) While they usually bypass this high of Saint Helena by the west to benefit from breezes from the Brazilian coast to the 40th... these famous southern seas where the depressions follow each other without being blocked by any land.
Nice win
The skipper Fives Group – Lantana Environnement is still enjoying favourable conditions this morning. It progresses at about ten knots on the direct road. He managed to win well in the south compared to his fellow racers.
Further east, Jean Le Cam is a little slower for the moment. In the centre, Éric Bellion and Violette Dorange show very different speeds (5 and 10 knots) while they are only ten miles from each other.
Nothing is played yet!
In short, nothing is played and this descent to the south seas so awaited by the skipper Normand. The wind zones displayed on the maps do not always correspond to reality, especially at the edge of fluctuating weather systems. We will have to make the most of each situation: “I’m bordering, I shock, I study the weather files”, Louis had fun a few days ago to talk about his daily life, 24 hours a day for 17 days. And it’s only just beginning!
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