800 miles west of Point Nemo, Alexia Barrier is facing a terrible storm reminiscent of “Theta” encountered at the beginning of the race. Just a few more hours of struggle before she can find more favorable conditions.
In the middle of the Pacific, the sailing conditions are chaotic. Waves over six meters high are currently hitting TSE-4myplanet, and the situation has been ongoing for more than 24 hours. It’s exhausting for the skipper and her boat, likened to being in a washing machine on the spin cycle. The only thing she can do is wait out this depression coming from Antarctica while enduring the tough conditions.
Onboard, the situation is currently under control: “We are in the thick of it. Cape Horn is something you have to earn, and we are being tested. We’re at a steady 30 knots, with gusts up to 40 knots in the coming days. And I say ‘coming days’ because this is going to last at least 48 hours (editor’s note: it started yesterday morning) but well, that’s also the Vendée Globe for you. We are on a moped with TSE-4myplanet, meaning not much sail. I hope I won’t have to go outside too often because it’s really intense,” the Maralpine details quietly, a testament to the immense effort required to manage this depression.
Currently, Alexia Barrier is being carried by the current and the wind blowing eastward. However, in order to maintain a safe distance from the ice zone, she has to steer slightly more south, which gives her slightly more favorable conditions but with less wind. The Azur coast sailor navigates this depression at an average speed of 8.4 knots (or 15.6 km/h), allowing her to cover more than 250 miles (or 465 km) over the past 24 hours.
Cape Horn is both so far yet so close. If all goes well, Alexia will pass Point Nemo on Wednesday night.
