After a final night of reflection, the decision for the monohulls at the back of the race was unanimous. They will head due South!
For the eight trailing boats, approaching South Africa is still laborious, and only Jérémie Beyou was displaying a speed above 15 knots this Monday. When the leaders have passed Cape Leeuwin, the last ones will just enter the Indian Ocean… In about 48 hours. While the distance between the leaders and the small group at the back had been stable for about ten days, the gap is growing again. “TSE-4myplanete” is now 6,000 nautical miles behind Charlie Dalin, who has been leading the race for 15 days now.
After having spent a restless night with several maneuvers to tack, for Alexia Barrier, “it’s the transition. After the depression, there is beautiful sunshine. Well, now my route choice is south to catch some wind.” Currently ranked third in the small group that has formed well, the Maralpine is best positioned due South which should allow her to pass ahead of Miranda Merron and Fabrice Amedeo, who are just ahead of her.
Although the day’s average speed was logically not great (13 km/h), the pink and black monohull should regain its cruising speed with favorable winds approaching around fifteen knots.
It will then be difficult to glimpse the Cape of Good Hope as some leaders have been able to, but the main point lies elsewhere. Crossing the boundary between the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean to benefit from more favorable conditions by skirting the exclusion zone. Alexia Barrier has less than 34,250 km left to complete her first solo around-the-world sailing trip.
