There is plenty of activity on the docks of Les Sables d’Olonne, certainly more than at sea if we consider the situation Alexia Barrier experienced for several hours, stuck in a dead calm.
Some are arriving, while others are already setting off again! Yesterday, several boats that arrived in the leading positions have already left the port of Les Sables d’Olonne to return to their base camps. Meanwhile, a small group of five sailors is expected to cross the finish line during the night, thus repopulating the docks devoid of spectators.
Behind them, after having weathered a heavy squall, Alexia Barrier spent much of the afternoon entangled in the doldrums. It’s a very challenging time for sailors, except when a live spectacle appears in the distance. “If all calms are accompanied by dolphins, if the windless moments are spent in their company, it will be much less difficult,” explained the sailor from Marseille before witnessing a dozen mammals dancing around her IMOCA. A beautiful moment that brought a smile to her face before resuming her journey towards the Doldrums.
Regarding the race, despite this slight setback, TSE-4myplanet is faring quite well, covering an average of 220 nautical miles in a day at an average speed of nine knots. At this pace, crossing the Equator will happen tomorrow morning, at the dawn of the 95th day of the race.
We will, therefore, be far from the initial goal, which was to complete this around-the-world journey in 97 days, but that is no longer the priority. The focus now is to finish calmly and, if possible, in good company!
