Vendée Globe Update: Charlie Dalin Maintains Lead Amid Intense Competition
As of Tuesday evening, November 26, 2024, Charlie Dalin, sailing on Macif Santé Prévoyance, continues to lead the Vendée Globe race towards the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa. The latest report from the race organizers at 7:00 p.m. indicates that Dalin's position remains unchanged, with a group of nine skippers closely trailing him. His nearest competitors include Thomas Ruyant (Vulnerable) in second place and Nicolas Lunven (Holcim - PRB) in fifth, with all skippers now less than 100 nautical miles apart.
The leading fleet has been benefiting from a depression that originated off the coast of Brazil, allowing them to maintain impressive speeds of 20 to 22 knots over the past 24 hours as they navigate the Atlantic towards the southeast. Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa), who holds the record for the most distance covered in 24 hours during this edition, expressed concerns about the sustainability of their current pace, stating, "It's really a speed race... I don't really like this group that's bombing in any old way. I don't think we're going to be able to last like this for two months!".
Paul Meilhat (Biotherm), currently in ninth position, noted the challenging conditions, saying, "It was a tough day, the wind picked up quite strongly and the seas got rough." Meanwhile, Sébastien Simon (4th) anticipates that the next 24 hours will be mentally intense as they continue to ride the depression's wave.
The race organizers have recently adjusted the Antarctic Exclusion Zone (AEZ), reducing it by almost 100 minutes, which is expected to help the sailors shorten their route and take advantage of favorable southern depressions. Fabien Delahaye from race management clarified that initial echoes detected near the AEZ were identified as fishing boats, with icebergs positioned far from the race path.
Current Rankings as of November 26, 2024
- Charlie Dalin (Macif Santé Prévoyance) - 18,826.30 nautical miles from the finish
- Thomas Ruyant (Vulnerable) - 31.08 miles behind
- Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa) - 71.09 miles behind
- Sébastien Simon (Dubreuil Group) - 79.25 miles behind
- Nicolas Lunven (Holcim - PRB) - 97.08 miles behind
- Jérémie Beyou (Charal) - 103.26 miles behind
- Sam Goodchild (Vulnerable) - 132.58 miles behind
- Yannick Bestaven (Maître Coq V) - 195.25 miles behind
- Paul Meilhat (Biotherm) - 207.79 miles behind
- Samantha Davies (Initiatives-Coeur) - 338.42 miles behind
Notably, Maxime Sorel (V and B-Monbana-Mayenne) has abandoned the race.
