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In less than 48 hours, Louis went from grey to blue, from 5 to 15°C, from Tierra del Fuego to the latitude of Buenos Aires... After a month in the depths of the Southern Ocean, the light is back on the deck of the Imoca Fives Group - Lantana Environnement! The wind, however, has flown a little further north... The Norman skipper narrowly escaped catching the downwind breeze that allowed part of the group he was sailing in to escape, but, once again, without the ad-hoc sails...

 

Louis has been battling since yesterday in an anticyclonic bubble, close-hauled (against the wind), he is tacking to get out of this calm zone as quickly as possible. This will normally be the case this morning with the arrival of a light flow from the North sector gradually turning to the West. He will then be able to take a more direct route along the Brazilian coast.

 

"Benjamin, Tanguy, Conrad managed to escape the anticyclonic bubble... In light airs, downwind, without valid headsails, I couldn't do the same thing. The close-hauled will last a bit... but we have some nice conditions that are very pleasant to get through this transition", commented Louis yesterday afternoon, still positive and looking ahead.

Whales blows

In the absence of breaths of air, this weekend, Louis had the immense pleasure of being accompanied by whales, surrounded by their blows: "Saturday, it was quite magical! There were whale blows all around the boat, they looked really big. It lasted a good hour. And it started again on Sunday..."

 

And on Saturday evening, between two sail adjustments, Louis was the special guest at the Class40 champions’ evening! He had the pleasure of chatting via video from the South Atlantic with his friends and former competitors!

 

It's Monday and it's not over yet!

Back to business, and wind, this Monday: at 7am, the skipper Fives Group – Lantana Environnement is in 25th position, 7th of the boats with daggerboards. There are still 5,800 miles (10,700 km) to go, with many more weather traps to avoid and opportunities to make up places: the fight will not stop until Les Sables d’Olonne!

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