Saturday review - Image: Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil) photographed by Yoann Richomme (PAPREC ARKÉA)  © Yoann Richomme

 

A few days ago he said he was gunning for him. This morning when he regained second place on the Vendée Globe from Seb Simon (Groupe Dubreuil) Yoann Richomme (PAPREC ARKÉA) delivered on his promise.

Remarkable Richomme has now regained much of the deficit of 400 miles he sustained by moving out of the path of the low big pressure system a week ago, and this Saturday afternoon the predatory PAPREC ARKÉA skipper is 130 or so miles behind his long time rival, first placed Charlie Dalin (MACIF Santé Prévoyance) 

 

And, just as forecast over recent days, a ridge of high pressure is blocking all the chasers this weekend, reshaping the chasing peloton to now comprise Thomas Ruyant (VULNERABLE, 4th) back to Clarisse Cremer (L'Occitane en Provence, 13th). As soon as they emerge from this windless zone next week, this 10 strong posse of men and women sailors should accelerate on the heels of a decent front which will allow them a chance to pull back miles on the leading trio. 

 

Further back, Damien Seguin (Groupe APICIL) is battling in conditions that are still very rough, Guirec Soudée (Freelance.com, 30th) has regained momentum after his making his repairs and Jingkun Xu (Singchain Team Haikou, 34′) is working tirelessly despite a sore shoulder.

 

Yoann Richomme, skipper of PAPREC ARKÉA overhauled Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil) this morning as they charged eastwards towards the longitude of South Island New Zealand which is about 200 miles ahead of the leaders this afternoon.  The two filmed the scene, a surreal moment with IMOCAs separated by a few hundred metres in the heart of the Pacific Ocean. "It's not pleasant but it's part of the game," conceded Simon. 

The pendulum swings for the chasers…..

But there is no time to lose for second placed Richomme  or the Dalin. Because behind them the competition is poised to bounce back into the picture. The pursuers, from Thomas Ruyant (VULNERABLE, 4th) to Clarisse Crémer (L'Occitane en Provence, 13th) came up against a ridge of high pressure, a windless zone, which slowed them down throughout this weekend. But this setback will not and they will get their chance to return at the leading trio.

 

Next week a front should pick up and propel this whole group of pursuers, which could allow them to catch up with the leaders

 

 "Even if it's still very hypothetical, the groups should get closer, we could see a new start," explains Christian Dumard, weather consultant for the Vendée Globe. In any case any small compensation will cheer Ruyant who, like Sam Davies recently sustained numerous electrical blackouts caused by his electrical charging system He says, “I was told that it was Friday the 13th and I had one bad news after another. During the day, I saw that I was going to be caught by the ridge of high pressure. And then there was this blackout. You find yourself in the dark of night, without autopilot, without mapping, without means of communication, you feel a little alone! But this bad day is now behind me."

 

And the improvement in the weather outlook is very much approved of by Ruyant: "After the slowdown linked to the ridge of high pressure for the last 24 hours, we're going to benefit from this front, which will allow us to go fast, for a long time and to make a lot of miles. It's a hell of a regatta, it's great and we're determined not to give up!” 

 

Paul Meilhat (Biotherm) says the same thing, even if he is currently being caught by the group made up of Boris Herrmann (Malizia-Seaexplorer, 10th), Justine Mettraux (Teamwork-Team Snef, 11th), Sam Davies (Initiatives Cœur, 12th) and Clarisse Crémer (L'Occitane en Provence, 13th). But he too will come back on Dalin, Richomme and Simon. "We're going to pick up the wind and reverse the trend," he explains. It's classic of the Southern Ocean, the gaps are made and undone and the elastic band stretches and tightens to and fro” 

 

Seguin in trouble, Soudée back at it
Further back in the fleet there is reassuring news for Damien Seguin (17th). The skipper of Groupe APICIL has been stuck in the strong depression that has affected this part of the fleet during the week. And in these tough conditions – about forty knots, 7-metre waves – after a big broach yesterday the chainplate of the deck spreader outrigger  tore off, causing a hole in the hull. While repairing, he suffered a big bump causing pain in his neck and knee. Seguin continues to make progress along the AEZ (Antarctic Exclusion Zone), on port tack, and nothing is easy. "There will still be strong winds at around forty knots, gusts to 50 knots and heavy seas with 8 metres of waves," says Christian Dumard. The next few hours will be complicated and it will last at least until tomorrow evening."

 

For Guirec Soudée (Freelance.com, 30th), very hard conditions are expected on Sunday evening with 60 knots of wind and gusts of 70 knots. Southern Ocean Rookie Soudée says he wants to play it safe after he was required to repair damage cause to his J2 in a broach. He has been forced him to climb the mast in very rough seas. He now has to deal with a problem with his rudder systems and only has a working hydrogenerator. But Soudée is holding on and is almost amused: "You're obviously super happy when you solve a problem. But if I didn't have any more problems until the end, I wouldn't complain either!”

 

Every day, the sailors hold out, push their limits a little more. JingKun Xu (Singchain Team Haikou, 34th) is the best illustration of this. For nearly 20 days, he has been suffering from persistent inflammation in his right shoulder. "This injury has a big impact on me," he said this morning. It hurts me a lot when I change the sails, in particular. It's part of the risks at sea, I know I have to overcome the problem." In the Vendée Globe, every small step feels like a big victory.