Vendée Globe, Denis' mainsail troubles continue

While it seems likely that Manuel Cousin (Coup de Pouce, 31st) should cross the finish line tomorrow (Friday) and then Fabrice Amedeo (Nexans Wewise, 32nd) should finish after the weekend, a dark cloud of uncertainty is hanging over the Belgian skipper Denis Van Weynbergh (D’Ieteren Group, 33rd).

He has had a mainsail halyard problem since the beginning of the week and, after it fell again, he is progressing slowly without a mainsail. This latest mishap is again significantly delaying his arrival in Les Sables d’Olonne, which now seems set to be after the finish line closes on Friday 7 March at 0700hrs UTC. And so it appears that Van Weynbergh might end up completing his round the world race without an official ranking, finishing after the time limit. 

Van Weynbergh’s ordeal continues

The Belgian skipper, 33rd of 33, may have been last for a long while but he did not expect such a complex and exhausting finish to his race. On Monday, he had to deal with his main halyard breaking, the loop spliced at the top end of the halyard failed. But he managed to re-hoist it to the height of the second reef using the spinnaker halyard. But yesterday evening, in a short voice message, he said that his halyard is "broken again". He is making slow headway without a mainsail, only with a headsail. "I'm under J3 and for the moment I'm making headway like that," he said as he made 6 knots. "I'll see how the situation evolves to continue under the headsail, the boat and I are safe. There is no problem for the moment". 

"Right now Denis is monitoring the situation and continuing to progress towards the East", reports race director, Hubert Lemonnier. But Denis is slowed down, which compromises a finish before the line closure, which will take place next Friday at 0700hrs. If he finishes after that time, Denis will no longer be ranked but deemed to have finished out of the race. He is now expected around March 10th.
 
Manu Cousin due in soon

Less than 300 miles to the line and making nine knots this morning, Manuel Cousin (Coup de Pouce, 31st) continues to gradually get closer to the finish. Racing into an easterly breeze, he is getting up to the latitude of the tip of Brittany before tacking down to Les Sables d'Olonne. "He took a very Northerly route to find the wind shift and have a good angle to go back down towards the finish line, explains Basile Rochut, weather consultant for the Vendée Globe. Manu will have 10 to 15 knots of wind upwind on a layline to La Rochelle and will have to make two tacks until the end." 

The skipper of Coup de Pouce is aiming to cross the line on Friday evening but he might not be able to go up the channel until Saturday because of the tides.

Fabrice Amedeo (Nexans Wewise, 32nd) is continuing his climb off the Portuguese coast and it's not easy. He is currently northwest of a strong low pressure system upwind and the wind is expected to strengthen tonight with 30 to 40 knots of wind upwind. 
"Fabrice has two choices: either go around outside or inside the TSS (Traffic separation system) at Finisterre,” explains Basile Rochut. His ETA has moved back slightly and could be next Tuesday during the day.

What they miss the most

Before arriving, Manuel Cousin and Fabrice Amedeo told us what they missed the most since leaving land. After more than 108 days at sea, reuniting with their families and loved ones is becoming more and more pressing. “It’s human contact that is starting to be missed with my wife, my daughters, my friends,” confides Manuel Cousin. “I want to hug them,” adds Fabrice.

And then there’s everything else. “I also think about basic comfort: sleeping in a bed that doesn’t move, sleeping in dry sheets, taking a nice hot shower,” smiles Manuel. “I dream of falling asleep without wondering what the weather is going to do to me, being able to relax,” continues Fabrice. The skipper of Nexans-Wewise concludes: “I have had a great break out here on the oceans, a little longer than expected, but I can’t wait to get back to my life on land.”