Vendée Globe: Dalin leads descent to the magic carpet depression

Thomas Ruyant (VULNERABLE) led the 2024 Vendée Globe fleet into the Southern Hemisphere yesterday evening at 19:10:15hrs UTC, so taking an elapsed time of 11d 07h 08m 15s since starting the solo non stop race round the world on Sunday 11th at 1202hrs UTC. The leader’s passage to the Equator is the slowest since at least the 2008-9 race.

Ruyant led early this morning by just four miles, but after benefiting from his more easterly positioning, it is Charlie Dalin (MACIF Santé Prévoyance) back ahead this morning with Sam Goodchild (VULNERABLE) in third at just five miles behind. As of 0600hrs UTC this morning 14 boats have crossed the line into the Southern Hemisphere. The most notable comeback has been that of Dalin who is up to second, but the leading peloton is big, compact and very evenly matched, promising a thrilling race to the Big South. There are still only 50 miles separating the top 10. In 2020 Alex Thomson already led Ruyant by 80 miles. 

Rum, chocolate and beer

Ruyant toasted King Neptune with rum, Sam Goodchild with some chocolate buttons from Grenada where he grew up, Sam Davies, in 11th this morning, with some beer. Traditions fulfilled and it is down to the business of making sure a connection is made with the low pressure developing off Cabo Frio, north of Rio de Janeiro, the legendary cyclogenesis zone where Southern Ocean depressions are born. 

It's a pretty cool scenario. If we're lucky enough to catch this depression coming out of Brazil, we'll be able to quickly go down towards the Cape of Good Hope, we'll be catapulted to South Africa.

Now they are headed towards Fernando de Noronha with speeds that vary between 15 and 18 knots. “The boats furthest to the West have a tight angle in the South-East trade wind, which explains why the speeds are not quite high”, explains Jacques Caraës at the race management. 

And of the race to connect with the Pierre Hays are race direction suggests:  "The first should reach it within 24 hours, even if it is still difficult to be certain, the first ten should be able to benefit from it."

"A lift not to be missed"

And so this is the major challenge which is foremost in the minds of all the top skippers. Jérémie Beyou, who twisted his knee yesterday explains: "It is important, it is a lift not to be missed. We all want to catch this small depression and escape with it." 

Davies (Initiatives Cœur) observes, "It's a pretty cool scenario. If we're lucky enough to catch this depression coming out of Brazil, we'll be able to quickly go down towards the Cape of Good Hope, we'll be catapulted to South Africa. That would allow us to cut the route and quickly cross the South Atlantic."

I'm not disappointed by experience of the Doldrums! I had huge flashes of lightning, torrential rain... It was more frightening than windy. I wasn't surprised but I'm happy to have passed the first Doldrums of my life.

Still dealing with the Doldrums

For the rest of the fleet, the Doldrums are still a reality. Seventeen sailors are out, the most recent being Damien Seguin (Groupe Apicil). "There's a good little elastic rebound at the exit between these boats and the others that are making progress at less than ten knots," Jacques Caraës explains. In this second group, there is notably Benjamin Ferré (Monnoyeur - DUO for a JOB) who is always as perceptive when it comes to describing the situation. This was the case last night while he was enjoying tuna pasta: "I'm not disappointed by experience of the Doldrums! I had huge flashes of lightning, torrential rain... It was more frightening than windy. I wasn't surprised but I'm happy to have passed the first Doldrums of my life. It looks like a big cloud cluster with crazy lights. The clouds move and carry barrels of water. On the other hand, I have been caught out in areas of calm water several times and it benefits my little friends. And then it is hot: as soon as I take a step in the boat, I lose 10 litres of water. I even hesitate to put in a reef because it is so hot!” Ferré keeps smiling and continues to press forwards. At the same time, the fleet is stretching out a little more. There are now nearly 700 miles between the head of the fleet and Jingkun Xu (Singchain Team Haikou, 38th) and more than 1,300 miles with Szabolcs Weöres (New Europe, 39th) who are bringing up the rear.