Issued on: 18\/01\/2021 - 18:20<\/p>\n
Paris (AFP)<\/p>\n
French skippers Charlie Dalin and Louis Burton emerged from the doldrums on Monday and began the final sprint to the line in the solo round-the-world Vendee Globe.<\/p>\n
Dalin, on Apivia, led Burton's Bureau Vallee 2, by 59 nautical miles at 1700 GMT Monday although the latter, on a more westerly path, had the better wind and was clocking four knots faster.<\/p>\n
Both skippers came away relatively lightly from the doldrums, a tricky area around the Equator which has little wind, where sailors can get stuck for days.<\/p>\n
\"I just went in a straight line and it worked well, I was lucky and it seemed to work this time,\" Burton told the race organisers. <\/p>\n
\"It's very good for Charlie and me. We were not as badly affected as the rest of the fleet. <\/p>\n
\"We are a little more ahead of our rivals than when we got into the doldrums.\"<\/p>\n
The course, however, is not a simple chase to the line as the two rivals will hit a depression on Tuesday, meaning bad weather and high seas, and will then face a ridge of high pressure before another depression. <\/p>\n
\"The strategic choice has already started,\" said Burton who intends to be \"on the attack\" as much as he can. <\/p>\n
The leaders are now looking at another 10 days to complete the nearly 3,000nm back to Les Sables d'Olonne and finish a race that started from the French port on November 8.<\/p>\n
The chasing pack was held back by the doldrums, which was stickier than expected, before hitting the North Atlantic and the run for home. <\/p>\n
Damien Seguin in Groupe Apicil is 111nm behind Dalin in third, closely followed by Thomas Ruyant in LinkedOut. <\/p>\n
Longtime leader Yannick Bestaven (Maitre Coq IV) was in fifth 124nm behind Dalin with German skipper Boris Herrmann (Seaexplorer-Yacht Club de Monaco), who was up to third a couple of days ago, another 36nm further back.<\/p>\n
\"There are a lot of difficult things for me at the moment,\" said Bestaven on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"Since Cape Horn, I have had a lot of technical problems with the boat. I'll say it today, I thought I could hide it a bit.<\/p>\n
\"During the passage to Cape Horn, I had a big depression. I hit a huge wave which swept the entire foredeck of the boat.<\/p>\n
\"I no longer have a balcony, no more furling (for the mast), and I have some sails that I can no longer use.\"<\/p>\n
Of the 33 yachts that began the race, eight have already retired. <\/p>\n
Leading race standings as of 1700 GMT, January 18<\/p>\n
1. Charlie Dalin (FRA\/Apivia) 2839.8 nautical miles from finish, 2. Louis Burton (FRA\/Bureau Vallee 2) at 59.9, 3. Damien Seguin (FRA\/Groupe Apicil) 111.6, 4. Thomas Ruyant (FRA\/LinkedOut) 118.6, 5. Yannick Bestaven (FRA\/Maitre Coq IV) 124.1, 6.Boris Herrmann (GER\/Seaexplorer-Yacht Club de Monaco) 160.3, 7. Giancarlo Pedote (ITA\/Prysmian Group) 163.1, 8. Benjamin Dutreux (FRA\/OMIA-Water Family) 179.1, 9. Jean Le Cam (FRA\/Yes we Cam !) 265.8, 10. Maxime Sorel (FRA\/V And B Mayenne) 504.1<\/p>\n
2021 AFP<\/p>\n
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Dalin and Burton out of the doldrums in Vendee Globe - FRANCE 24<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Issued on: 18\/01\/2021 - 18:20 Paris (AFP) French skippers Charlie Dalin and Louis Burton emerged from the doldrums on Monday and began the final sprint to the line in the solo round-the-world Vendee Globe. Dalin, on Apivia, led Burton's Bureau Vallee 2, by 59 nautical miles at 1700 GMT Monday although the latter, on a more westerly path, had the better wind and was clocking four knots faster. Continue reading