Versatility is an essential quality for participating in the Vendée Globe. Alexia Barrier has once again proven this to us.
Securely harnessed at the back of her boat, Alexia Barrier set about repairing her hydrogenerator, which broke down a few days before Christmas. This operation is more than perilous as it requires ensuring her safety on a boat that speeds along at nearly ten knots on sometimes rough seas.
Thus, with her feet in the water, the Maralpine spent part of her day restoring this piece, which allows her to generate electricity through the movement of a small propeller. This source of energy is necessary to properly power the IMOCA and works in tandem with the solar panels installed on the deck. However, with the capricious weather of recent days, it was certainly important to restore this system.
Moreover, the weather wasn’t exactly kind, as could be seen in the footage filmed by Alexia during her repair. With a little over 20 knots on average for the day, the sea was somewhat rough, making the task more complex. That didn’t stop the Maralpine, who continues her journey in the Pacific with New Zealand as the highlight.
Let’s hope that this somewhat damp repair holds up for the remaining 21,800 km!
