The Vendée Globe remains the epitome of endurance sailing. For 75 grueling days, competitors have battled extreme weather, equipment failures, and mental fatigue as they race alone across the world’s oceans. Now, as the finish line looms, the Bay of Biscay delivers its final challenge: a powerful storm system with gale-force winds and mountainous seas.

Closing in: Dutreux and Crémer lead the pack

Benjamin Dutreux aboard Guyot Environnement is expected to cross the finish line this afternoon, securing an impressive 10th place. The Vendéen skipper has raced with remarkable precision, piloting the first of the 2016-generation boats to the finish, in a fleet dominated by newer designs. Hot on his heels is Clarisse Crémer on L’Occitane en Provence, who is set to finish just hours behind. Both sailors are celebrated for their resilience, each overcoming unique obstacles to make it to this point.

For Crémer, the journey has been especially demanding. “I’ve faced tight qualification deadlines, damage during the Transat CIC, and even a technical stop in the Azores,” she shared. “But reaching the Vendée Globe finish line is the ultimate triumph.”

Dodging The Worst: Strategies At Sea

Further south, skippers Sam Davies (Initiatives Cœur) and Boris Herrmann (Malizia-Seaexplorer) are carefully navigating their way north, timing their arrival to avoid the storm’s worst. Both sailors face difficult choices about balancing safety with competitiveness.

For Davies, who made the tough decision to delay her finish, the situation is bittersweet.

“It’s not easy mentally to do what I’m doing,” she admitted. “I’ve been monitoring this arrival for almost a week, and it’s been tough to see boats I raced with cross the line ahead of me. But when I look at the weather, I know I made the right decision—it would have been too dangerous to press on.”

Boris Herrmann echoed these sentiments, describing the delicate balance of storm avoidance and progress.

“I’m preparing my boat for the storm and adjusting my speed to stay just behind the worst of it,” he explained. “Why not wait 36 more hours and approach in better conditions? But I also don’t want to find myself upwind in worse weather. Every decision is a gamble.”

The toll of the voyage

For Belgian skipper Denis van Weynbergh (D’Ieteren Group), the Atlantic leg of the race marks a psychological and physical milestone. He reflected on the trials of rounding Cape Horn and enduring the notorious Indian Ocean, which he described as “vicious and sneaky” and full of “boat-breaking conditions.”

Despite the hardships, van Weynbergh maintains a sailor’s humour:

“The boat is starting to need a stable, but we’re still getting along! Here, there’s no room for divorce proceedings, so we’ll stick together and support each other to the end.”

The camaraderie between competitors, even as they race solo, highlights the spirit of the Vendée Globe. Many skippers, including Davies and Herrmann, have shared messages of encouragement, underscoring the shared challenges they face.

Lessons in resilience

The Vendée Globe is often described as a marathon of the seas. For these sailors, the journey is as much about mental resilience as it is about technical skill.

Davies reflected on the emotional toll of her decision-making:

“I’ve been marking time for almost two days now. It’s better to wait in calm seas than to push into danger. But every extra day at sea brings new risks, and the lack of adrenaline from racing is tough. Yet, this is what makes the Vendée Globe so incredible. It’s about perseverance and earning every mile to the finish line.”

The storm battering the Bay of Biscay is a sobering reminder of the race’s relentless challenges. Waves reaching 10 metres and winds gusting fiercely make safe landfall a daunting task. For Davies and Herrmann, careful planning and patience will be the keys to crossing the line safely.

As these competitors approach the final stretch, their stories serve as a testament to the indomitable human spirit. The Vendée Globe is not just a race; it’s a proving ground for courage, determination, and passion. For spectators in New Zealand and around the world, the tales of endurance coming from the fleet inspire sailors of all levels to dream big and sail boldly.

Final thoughts

As Benjamin Dutreux and Clarisse Crémer prepare to celebrate their arrival in Les Sables d’Olonne, their achievements highlight the diversity of challenges and triumphs that define the Vendée Globe. For sailors still at sea, like Sam Davies and Boris Herrmann, the finish remains a battle against time, weather, and personal limits.

The Vendée Globe is a reminder that every race is about more than just winning—it’s about the journey, the lessons learned, and the stories that will inspire future generations of sailors.