Despite the lead maintained by Dalin for the past six days, speeds remain relatively consistent across the top six competitors, all averaging between 22 and 24 knots. This is due to the depression system they have been riding since crossing north of Rio. With conditions favourable for the fleet, the top sailors are squeezing everything they can out of their boats in what’s becoming a battle of endurance and skill.

Holcem reports back from the front of the pack. 28/11

The rich get richer: a classic Vendée scenario

As expected, the leaders of the Vendée Globe are beginning to pull away from the rest of the fleet. This is a familiar scenario in which the best sailors, aboard the latest generation of high-tech foiling boats, are setting the pace. With the best funding and the most advanced equipment, it’s no surprise that they’re benefitting from favourable weather conditions. These factors are allowing the front-runners to extend their advantage, as Romain Attanasio (currently in 15th place aboard Fortinet – Best Western) pointed out this morning.

“There’s a clear difference in performance between the foiling boats and those with daggerboards,” Attanasio said, expressing a mix of admiration and frustration. “Today, the foilers are untouchable in terms of speed. They’re so fast, and that’s reflected in the gaps that are opening up. Four years ago, we were saying ‘yeah, the foilers and all that’, but it was a totally different scenario back then. Now, it’s all happening at the front, with the speeds absolutely crazy. This is definitely a Vendée Globe for foilers.”

While the speed advantage of the foilers is evident, it’s important to note that the race is far from over. The density of the fleet, with 39 out of 40 starters still in the race, means that every skipper has a rival to benchmark against, and there are still plenty of battles to be fought throughout the pack.

The races within a race

Even outside the top positions, there are intense battles forming between skippers who are closely matched in both distance to finish and performance. Jean Le Cam (Tout commence en Finistère-Armor Lux) and Louis Duc (Fives Groupe-Lantana Environnement) are separated by just two miles in the standings, while Clarisse Crémer (L’Occitaine en Provence) and Justine Mettraux (TeamWork – Team Snef) are similarly close, with only two miles between them in 12th and 13th place. Further back, there is only 20 miles separating Guirec Soudée (Freelance) in 32nd, Ollie Heer (Tut Gut), Fabrice Amedeo (Nexans Wewise), and Manu Cousin (Coup de Pouce), who occupy positions 35th and beyond.

A long race ahead: Heer plays the long game

Ollie Heer, racing in his first Vendée Globe, has been taking a steady approach. Despite the urge to push hard, the Swiss skipper is opting for a more cautious strategy, conserving his energy and focusing on maintaining his boat’s integrity. Speaking of his current strategy, Heer shared, “It’s going really well, I’m quite happy, feeling good. In fact, the last two weeks have been quite easy sailing, so I am very happy.”

With the most difficult challenges still ahead, particularly the transition into the Southern Ocean, Heer is mindful of the mental and physical toll the race can take. He continues, “I take every day as it comes. Every day is a new day, but for sure my mental coaching ahead of this race has helped me minimise the risk of any mental difficulties or wobbles.”

Heer also faced a technical issue during the race, having to rewire one of his autopilots after a failure in the voltage supply to the clutch. After making the repairs, Heer now has two fully operational autopilots. He explained, “I had to rewire one of my autopilots. The voltage supply to the clutch out of the autopilot computer failed, so I had to rewire it. Now I have two working pilots, which is a relief.”

Despite the occasional technical hiccup, Heer is keeping his focus on the long term. “The last two weeks have been quite light winds sailing, and it stays quite light for the next few days. We’ll see 15-17 knots tonight, maybe even 18, before we hook into the first low pressure system heading into the Southern Ocean. I’ll keep sailing my own race, staying close to the rhumb line, taking it easy.”

As for pushing his boat to its full potential, Heer is holding back, conscious that this is a race of endurance rather than sprinting for the front. “I’m not sailing my boat at full punch yet. It’s a long race, and I don’t want to break the boat. I want to be in top shape when we reach the Southern Ocean, so pushing the boat too hard right now would be wrong. But I’m always learning how to sail the boat faster with less effort.”

Listen to the voice interview with Oli here

The road ahead

As the race unfolds, the leaders continue to extend their advantage, and it’s clear that the Vendée Globe is shaping up to be one of the most thrilling editions in recent history.

With Sébastien Simon closing in on Charlie Dalin and the rest of the fleet still in close contention, this year’s race promises plenty of excitement and challenges for all involved. For skippers like Ollie Heer, the key to success will be balancing ambition with caution, taking each day as it comes, and ensuring their boats are ready for the long, arduous journey ahead.