The Vendée Globe 2024 race continues to grip sailing enthusiasts as the competition grows fiercer, especially among the leading skippers maneuvering through challenging weather conditions. The anticyclonic ridge forming a barrier has isolated three leaders from the remainder of the fleet, creating tactical scenarios reminiscent of chess on water.
Jérémie Beyou, currently at sixth place on his vessel Charal, aptly describes the situation, noting, “This large blue area still acts as an impassable barrier.” With patience running thin, Beyou and his fellow contenders are poised to break free. The anticyclone is forecasted to move north, which should enable the big group of nine skippers, including Boris Herrmann aboard Malizia-Seaexplorer (10th), Justine Mettraux on TeamWork-Team Snef (11th), and Clarisse Crémer sailing L’Occitane en Provence (12th), to regain speed on their route eastwards.
“I hope I'm wrong but the sea state is going to make the next 24 hours very complicated,” grimaced Clarisse this morning. With wind speeds roaring between 40 to 45 knots, the skippers are forced to navigate these tumultuous conditions carefully.
Meanwhile, distress has swept through the ranks as news of Pip Hare's dismasting, placing her 16th, echoed throughout the fleet. The emotional toll of this incident weighed heavily on her fellow competitors. “I felt so sad, it brought tears to my eyes, it’s really hard,” confided Isabelle Joschke, placing 18th. “Pip is a great girl, always smiling, always on the ball,” added Arnaud Boissière from the 29th position, expressing his support. Their camaraderie reflects the solidarity within the harrowing competition of the Vendée Globe.
Retrospectively, many sailors, including Conrad Colman (27th), empathized with Hare's plight. “Every mast down is like a knife in the heart. It brings back a lot of emotions for me. When it happens to you, you feel like your whole world is falling apart,” he shared, recalling his own dismasting experience several years ago. Such tales of misfortune resonate deeply throughout the tightly-knit sailing community.
Standing resilient even after her setback, Hare said she aimed to salvage her racing spirit: “I don't know what happened. Medallia took off and when it landed, the mast fell in two pieces. I don't think I can explain what I'm feeling right now.” Despite the challenge faced, she remains optimistic about getting back on the track for the 2025 race, vowing, “It is not the end. It never is the end.”
With Hare currently 700 miles from the Australian coast, she manages to keep moving through her makeshift jury rig, maintaining speed at around 4 knots. This perseverance underlines the indomitable spirit of sailors competing for glory on treacherous seas.
Elsewhere, fatigue and gear malfunctions have triggered additional obstacles. Benjamin Ferré, on Monnoyeur - DUO for a JOB, faced unexpected turmoil with equipment failures. “There was oil everywhere on the boat, and the fixation of the keel literally exploded,” he described, recalling his shock and the urge to head toward Australia. With assistance from his shore team and fellow racer Jean Le Cam, Ferré resolved to continue after twelve grueling hours of repairs.
Colman also divulged insights from his recent experiences, saying, “It’s been bloody horrible, I will be happy to have the Indian Ocean behind me.” With lighter winds finally providing respite, Colman expressed relief at witnessing less than 25 knots for the first time this week. He juxtaposed this calmer setting against the relentless challenges faced throughout the race, metaphorically likening it to being locked on a roller coaster, continuously battling vicious systems.
“The challenge of the Vendée Globe is to deal with each daily challenge as it emerges,” he claimed, wisely summarizing the essence of ocean racing. Skippers must navigate successfully as they face headwinds, equipment failures, and emotional hurdles—all within the spirit of fierce competition.
From Hare's determined spirit to Ferré's mechanical issues, the Vendée Globe 2024 reveals the myriad challenges faced by sailors tackling one of the most demanding sailing races. Their collective fortitude and camaraderie, even amid setbacks, underline the unstoppable human resolve against nature's whims.
