A record-breaking performance
Dalin has added another accolade to his campaign, setting a new record for the passage between the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Leeuwin. His time of 9 days, 22 hours, and 27 minutes surpassed the 16-year-old record previously held by Michel Desjoyeaux. This milestone is a testament to Dalin’s skilful navigation and the advantageous weather patterns he has leveraged. However, as Christian Dumard, the race’s weather consultant, explains, Dalin’s path forward remains complex.
“Charlie will pass before the wind weakens too much. The others will be forced to go north around the ridge of high pressure to the north,” Dumard said. “The gap between them will therefore widen a little from the middle of tonight.”
While this positioning favours Dalin in the short term, it demands precision as he navigates southward through the gybe-heavy conditions. His hunters, on the other hand, may benefit from a more direct route, reducing the overall distance to the Pacific.
Setbacks and resilience
Second-placed Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil) has been grappling with a significant challenge: the loss of his starboard foil. Despite the setback, Simon remains determined.
“I’m hanging in there, I’m staying motivated,” Simon shared during an interview on the French live show. “However, everything remains to be done. I hope the Pacific will live up to its name.”
For Simon, managing these challenges while staying competitive underscores the mental and physical resilience required in this solo, round-the-world endeavour.
High-stakes strategies
Further down the fleet, Antoine Cornic (Human Immobilier) is testing a bold strategy in the tumultuous southern ocean. Opting for a more direct southern route, Cornic follows in the footsteps of Louis Burton’s daring 2020-21 race approach. However, with winds gusting over 50 knots and towering seas, the payoff remains uncertain, and the risks are immense.
Meanwhile, British skipper Pip Hare faced her own storm-induced complications aboard Medallia. Discovering a crack in her forward bulkhead, Hare quickly executed composite repairs despite challenging 5-metre waves and exhaustion from relentless conditions.
“The last 24 hours have been a really rough ride,” Hare explained. “The waves are close to five metres…it’s exhausting, and sadly that has taken a toll on my boat.”
Her commitment to pushing forward, even as the bulkhead repair cures, speaks volumes about the grit that defines this fleet.
The Indian Ocean’s final test
As the leaders inch closer to the Pacific, the Indian Ocean is unwilling to relent without one final test. The high-pressure system looming ahead serves as both an opportunity and a hazard. For Dalin, it’s a chance to rebuild his margin. For the chasing pack, it’s a reminder of the race’s unpredictable nature.
With Tasmania drawing near, the stakes have never been higher. Will Dalin hold his lead, or will the relentless efforts of his rivals close the gap? One thing is certain: in the Vendée Globe, nothing is ever guaranteed.
This race continues to showcase not only extraordinary feats of sailing but also the indomitable spirit of those daring enough to face the world’s oceans alone.
