Taking advantage of much more favorable weather conditions, the skippers of this 9th edition of the Vendée Globe are racing full speed down the Atlantic before making a 90° turn towards the Cape of Good Hope.
While the leaders cover miles at full speed heading toward the tip of Africa, the small group at the back continues to increase the pace in the Southern Trade Winds, more precisely off the coast of the Fernando de Noronha archipelago in Brazil. Apart from a few sail adjustments to maintain maximum speed, the days are a bit calmer for TSE-4myplanet.
With an average speed of 9.3 knots over the last 24 hours, Alexia Barrier is keeping up with Miranda Merron. Only a single mile separates them in this honorable fight for 26th place, which is currently held by the Maralpine. It’s now time for strategic choices to decide when to turn east to head towards the Cape of Good Hope.
It’s also time to recharge batteries after experiencing very challenging days both physically and mentally, perhaps leaving the autopilot to manage the situation a bit more. This might be an opportunity to bring out the yarn on board and knit a warm sweater that will be useful in about ten days. But for now, it’s time for sunscreen and the Brazilian heat. While the temperatures (26°C in the air and 28°C in the water) might tempt the navigator to take a dip in the turquoise waters of the western Atlantic, there’s no time to stop. Just a chance to make the most of the scenery around her.
Alexia Barrier has a little over 38,500 km left to complete her first Vendée Globe.
