Peloton Compressing Into Leading Trio, Herrmann Up To Fourth, Positive Vibes for Burton’s South Pacific Pitstop
Constrained by a high pressure to their north and only moderate winds, the Vendée Globe leaders are still losing miles to the peloton of skippers chasing 250 nautical miles behind. While Yannick Bestaven (Maitre Coq IV) remains just under 50 miles ahead of second positioned Charlie Dalin (APIVIA) Germany’s Boris Herrmann (SeaExplorer) has passed Jean Le Cam (Yes We Cam) to hold fourth place, his best position yet.
Vendée English Live #42 : Rich Wilson & Ari Huusela
Rich Wilson, American sailor and two times participant in the Vendée Globe, in 2008-09 and 2016-17, was the guest of the Vendée English Live at noon today. Ari Huusela was live.
Yannick Bestaven 'I think there is an advantage to be in the south'
Joined this Saturday morning, Yannick Bestaven (Master CoQ IV) is still recovering from the aftermath of the Indian whilst negotiating the complexities of the Pacific.
"It's alright! The weather is beautiful, sunny, the sky is azure blue. Temperatures have risen, it's quite strange and we have 15 degrees. I have lunch in the cockpit, under a big gennaker, and it's great! I was able to clean the boat and, as for sleeping, it's wonderful: we sleep much better in these conditions. It's important to recover after the Indian Ocean which was tough.
Racing at 56 degrees south under New Zealand Yannick Bestaven, Vendée Globe leader, is adjusting his body clock as best he can as he races east – for him and the top half of the fleet their day is now exactly opposite to the European night and vice versa. But rather than conditions close to the Ice Exclusion zone being akin to European winter, Bestaven again has blue skies and sunshine racing downwind with his big gennaker up on Maître Coq IV, while all the time trying to reduce the advance of second placed Charlie Dalin, now just 38 miles behind on APIVIA.
Consistent Dalin Closes Fast..... A Different Race to 2012..... 2016 Editions, Herrmann Ready to Challenge Le Cam for Fourth.
The southern Pacific Ocean between the longitude of Tasmania and New Zealand has proven to be just a little bit too peaceful for the liking of leaders Yannick Bestaven, Charlie Dalin and Thomas Ruyant today as the pacemaking trio have been slowed and so conceded nearly 100 miles to the chasing group of boats which has enjoyed perfect conditions.
