Vendée Globe Update: Charlie Dalin Extends Lead Towards Tasmania
As the Vendée Globe race progresses into its second month, Charlie Dalin has successfully widened his lead over Sébastien Simon after rounding Cape Leeuwin and exiting the Indian Ocean. At the 7:00 p.m. time limit on December 10, Dalin, sailing for Macif Santé Prévoyance, is positioned in first place with a significant 216.6-mile advantage over Simon of the Groupe Dubreuil. This lead comes on the heels of Dalin setting a new record for the segment between the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Leeuwin, surpassing the previous benchmark set by Michel Desjoyeaux in 2008 by an impressive 9 hours and 10 minutes.
Dalin's journey towards Tasmania and the Pacific Ocean is marked by his resilience, especially after losing his starboard foil just two days prior. Despite this setback, he remains optimistic, stating, "The race continues, there is no reason to panic. There have been some very nice stories with boats with only one foil." He draws inspiration from past competitors, particularly Alex Thompson, who secured second place in 2017 under similar circumstances.
Top 10 Rankings Unchanged Amidst Challenging Conditions
The top 10 rankings have remained stable since the morning check-in, with Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa) trailing in third place, 358.5 miles behind Dalin. The remaining competitors, including Thomas Ruyant (Vulnerable), Jérémie Beyou (Charal), and Nicolas Lunven (Holcim-PRB), are grappling with harsh conditions in the Indian Ocean. Lunven, currently in sixth place, described the situation as "a bit of a disaster," noting the challenging waves and high winds he is encountering.
The weather data indicates that Beyou and Lunven are facing the toughest conditions, with gusts exceeding 70 km/h and waves reaching 4 meters. As the race continues, the sailors must navigate these formidable challenges while striving for a strong finish.
Current Vendée Globe Rankings (as of December 10, 7:00 p.m.):
- Charlie Dalin (Macif Santé Prévoyance) - 12,968.1 nautical miles from the finish
- Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil) - 216.6 miles from the leader
- Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa) - 358.5 miles
- Thomas Rettant (Vulnerable) - 529.5 miles
- Jérémie Beyou (Charal) - 685.2 miles
- Nicolas Lunven (Holcim - PRB) - 687.5 miles
- Sam Goodchild (Vulnerable) - 766.9 miles
- Paul Meilhat (Biotherm) - 810.6 miles
- Yannick Bestaven (Maître Coq V) - 865.4 miles
- Boris Herrmann (Malizia - Seaexplorer) - 1,110.9 miles
Notably, Szabolcs Weöres (New Europe) is currently in 38th place, trailing by 5,813.0 miles. Dropouts from the race include Maxime Sorel (V and B-Monbana-Mayenne) and Louis Burton (Bureau Vallée).
