On the 36th day into the Vendée Race the leading group continue to close up on the leader Apivia, as it has experienced lighter winds, but is now averaging 17 knots. Its lead over 2nd placed LinkedOut is down to 62 miles and Maître CoQ is only 6 miles further behind. Then there is a gap of 180 miles to 4th placed Apicil which is showing slower speeds along with the rest of the front group. Pip Hare is in 18th position and going through a calmer patch and Miranda Merron is averaging some 11 knots in 23rd position 3,500 from the leader.
But all the remaining participants have now passed the Longitude of Cape Town, just as the three leading boats will pass the Longitude of Cape Leeuwin later to-day. The fleet is well spread out and the gap is now an ocean!
It has been some week for the Vendée. Starting with Jean Le Cam’s excellent rescue of Escoffier, a great piece of seamanship and determination to find and recover a fellow sailor. Jean Le Cam is still up there with the leaders despite the fact that he does not have foils like all the other leading boats. You cannot help wanting him to do well. It’s not just down to his determination. He is also showing that foils are not necessarily the solution. You have to survive in this race, and Jean le Cam is showing that he is a survivor.
The fleet is now down to 27 yachts from its original starters of 33 yachts. So far so good, but as usually about half the starting fleet finish and we are not halfway through the route yet; there is plenty to watch over the next few weeks. The chances of setting a new record for the race are becoming steadily less. The chances were made very difficult by the South Atlantic weather systems earlier in the race and now after 36 days the fleet is not even halfway.