French skipper Romain Attanasio (Fortinet-Bessé-Ouest) was the latest to complete his third edition of the gruelling round-the-world race, finishing in 14th place after 83 days at sea. Just two hours later, Yannick Bestaven, the 2020 Vendée Globe winner, followed suit. Meanwhile, at the back of the fleet, the final trio of Denis Van Weynbergh, Fabrice Amedeo, and Manu Cousin are grappling with volatile conditions off the Brazilian coast, where unpredictable squalls and long periods of dead calm have tested their patience.
The fight for 15th place
As the race draws to a close, a fierce battle is unfolding for 15th place, with Damien Seguin (Groupe APICIL) leading the charge. The Paralympic champion has managed to edge ahead of his closest rivals, Alan Roura (Hublot), Benjamin Ferré (Monnoyeur – Duo for a Job), and Tanguy Le Turquais (Lazare). However, his lead is far from secure, as shifting wind conditions in the Bay of Biscay threaten to compress the fleet once again.
Further back, a group of four boats—Kajiro Shirishis on a foiling IMOCA and the daggerboard-equipped yachts of Violette Dorange, Sébastien Marsset, and Louis Duc—are still locked in their own contest. Girec Soudé, currently sitting in 23rd place, has finally found stable breeze and is making steady progress towards Les Sables d’Olonne.
The final days at sea
For the skippers still on course, the final stretch of the Vendée Globe presents a mix of relief and tension. With landfall now just days away, the desire to finish is immense, but so too is the challenge of maintaining focus in the face of exhaustion. As Jean Le Cam (Tout Commence en Finistère – Armor-lux) recently noted, life on board an IMOCA yacht at this stage of the race is all about endurance:
“There are between 30 and 38 knots, it is not very comfortable. What’s to come? I lie down on my bunk, I close my ears, and I let time pass! When you sleep, at least you do not think, there is not much to do. I hit a peak at 28 knots, that is big. I do not have a J2, but for those who have a J2, it must have been even more horrible!”
His words encapsulate the raw reality of solo ocean racing: the mental battle is just as demanding as the physical one.
Navigating the final obstacles
For some, the biggest challenge lies in keeping their boats in one piece until the finish. Italy’s Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian) has been managing a fragile rudder system, forcing him to sail conservatively:
“Every time I accelerate too much, I saw it yesterday, something happens with my rudder, it is tired, I have to accept that. I prefer not to push too much and want to just finish into Les Sables d’Olonne. But my state of mind is that I am really starting to feel that the end is coming.”
For 22-year-old Violette Dorange (Devenir), the youngest skipper in the fleet, the end of the race is bittersweet:
“I think I’m still tired, the fact of never sleeping in a long nap just builds the fatigue. I have never felt lonely from start to finish, just a little missing my family, but not the feeling of being alone in the world! Sometimes I get a little bored, often when the conditions are difficult and I can’t move in my boat, like these last few days when I was forced to stay inside. But I tell myself that it’s the end of the race, I have to make the most of it, I’m already nostalgic, telling myself that it will soon be over, it has been incredible!”
Her words are a reminder that for many of these sailors, the Vendée Globe is more than just a race—it’s a life-changing experience.
The final arrivals
With the leaders long since home and the tail end of the fleet making their final pushes, all eyes are on the next wave of arrivals. Skippers battling for the mid-fleet positions are expected to cross the finish line early next week, with Damien Seguin, Alan Roura, and Benjamin Ferré poised to make landfall on Monday morning.
For some, it will be a moment of celebration; for others, a relief that the hardships of the open ocean are finally behind them. But for all who have taken on this legendary challenge, finishing the Vendée Globe is an achievement like no other.
