There are only 29 boats left in the competition since Sébastien Simon announced his abandonment due to damage on his right foil caused by a UFO (unidentified floating object). Now it’s time for the Southern Ocean rollercoaster ride!
Alexia Barrier is entering a key moment in her race. As she approaches the tip of South Africa, the native of Maralpine will have to deal with swirling winds that will require heightened vigilance. Many have already come to grief there (Alex Thomson, Kévin Escoffier, Sébastien Simon, and Sam Davis who had to slow down after damaging her IMOCA).
A delicate phase that she is about to go through with her companion Miranda Merron, whom she has not left since the start of the race. It’s a way to support each other and be there for one another in case of trouble. But there is still time to gather some strength before diving into the battle and facing winds that can reach 40 knots and waves several meters high.
“Oh there it is finally (the sun)! It must have slipped under the cloud duvet for me to see it,” rejoiced Alexia Barrier. “On board TSE 4myplanet everything is fine. It was a day of adjustment to the start of the parade of gray shades, no more bikinis!” According to the weather forecasts, it should drop from 26°C along the Brazilian coast to a cool 10°C in a few days! This is an important psychological factor to which all sailors are preparing, though most are accustomed to these climate changes.
In just over 26 days of racing, Alexia has already covered more than 11,000 km since leaving Les Sables d’Olonne and continues to advance at an average speed of about ten knots, currently in 24th position!
