The countdown continues. After the arrival of Catalan Didac Costa last night, there are only five boats officially still in the race, not counting the two skippers who are continuing the adventure out of the race.
The IMOCA procession continues in Les Sables d’Olonne. Smoke flares, fireworks, despite everything that’s being said, the Covid atmosphere is still nice at the race’s arrival. Every passing day brings the Maralpine a bit closer to the final goal: “Up to the Cape Verde latitude, I am facing a fairly dense sea of sargassum (brown seaweed). I will be sailing upwind in winds between 15 and 20 knots, so it will still be moving and pounding a bit. I hope that by reaching the Canary Islands, I will have a favorable wind. I would like to arrive on the 26th (of February), but I feel like the wind doesn’t agree with me, so we’ll see.”
While the date of this return to shore is still very provisional, Alexia Barrier is not sparing any effort to conquer the over 27,000 nautical miles required to complete this solo around-the-world journey. Having experienced very challenging conditions, leaving the Doldrums feels like a relief. However, the task ahead does not promise to be simple to reach the finish line: “Having favorable wind is not unpleasant, it requires making a few maneuvers, taking a reef occasionally, switching the front sail, moving from J2 to J3, and the boat pounds, so I often do checks inside to ensure nothing is coming loose, there are no cracks… the ‘Penguin’ is holding strong!”
And that’s the least one can say knowing what this old boat has endured during this Vendée Globe and in the past. Courage, then, to cover the last 2,700 miles before she too gets her fireworks!
