The Arctic Vendée changes its path. Leaving on June 12th from Les Sables d’Olonne in Vendée for a loop taking the skippers very far north, above Iceland, the race is modified in view of the weather conditions. The 24 competitors still in the race will no longer circumvent Iceland but, once a virtual buoy has been crossed to the east of the island, will descend towards Vendée. “There’s a good depression coming – explains the race director Francis Le Goff – gusts of more than 50 knots, cross seas, we felt that it was complicated for the whole fleet to be able to do this course. VSIt surely passed for the first boats but not for the bulk of the fleet.”
Gusts over 50 knots – Francis Le Goff, race director
The other virtual buoy in the Atlantic has been shifted further west, making the 3,300 mile (5,300 km) course “will be substantially the same”. However, the route to the South will not be a piece of cake for the skippers with “difficult seas, strong winds and everyone, in addition to their performance, will have to make sure they sail like a good sailor”. The first are still expected next Wednesday or Thursday in Les Sables d’Olonne. Le Havre Charlie Dalin on Apivia was still in the lead this Thursday at midday.
Animations in the race village
The race village is lively every day from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and from 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday at the Vendée Globe pontoon: Imoca model races, photo exhibition on the Arctic by Florian Ledoux.
– Yves-Rene Tapon