Arkea Ultim Challenge: Quartet in the Indian Ocean and a special Southern Ocean moment

In the stern waters of Charles Caudrelier ("Maxi Edmond de Rothschild") and Thomas Coville ("Sodebo Ultim 3"), Armel Le Cléac'h ("Banque Populaire XI") and Anthony Marchand ("Actual Ultim 3") also reached the Indian Ocean in the early morning of 23 January. Both passed the first of the three capes of the solo circumnavigation on the 16th night at sea.

"SVR Lazartigue" safe in Cape Town

Tom Laperche had already arrived safely in Cape Town with his "SVR Lazartigue", which had been damaged in a collision with an unknown object. The 26-year-old and his team are now examining all options for a possible return to the race. The thorough inspection of the "SVR Lazartigue" has already begun. Repair work on the centreboard and hull bottom is planned.

Tom Laperche looked back on the days following the "UFO" collision. The young Frenchman from La Trinité-sur-Mer was in a strong second position when he collided with flotsam at a boat speed of 35 knots last week. The "SVR Lazartigue" suffered considerable damage.

There was a huge disappointment and then the desire to put the essential things in life into perspective" (Tom Laperche)

Tom Laperche said: "Those four days after the collision were the moments when I felt the loneliest. There was a huge disappointment and then a desire to put the essential things in life into perspective. But it's a relief to arrive here." The team of the blue trimaran now wants to "weigh up all possible options" before making a decision on how to proceed with the Arkea Ultim Challenge.

At the same time, the last-placed Éric Péron struggled eastwards halfway between Brazil and South America on Tuesday morning, a good 4,300 nautical miles behind leader Charles Caudrelier. Although the 42-year-old "Adagio" skipper was travelling on the shortest course, he made only slow progress in light winds.

Click here to go directly to the live tracker at YACHT online.

At the front of the widely spread field of the Arkea Ultim Challenge, however, the pace is not slackening. Charles Caudrelier also reached an average speed of just under 32 knots on Tuesday morning! "Maxi Edmond de Rothschild" is eating up miles like a hungry teenager eating muesli in the Southern Ocean at around the 49th parallel south.

On the morning of 23 January, the 49-year-old Caudrelier and his Gitana Gigantin had almost reached 82 degrees longitude. The next cape, the next milestone in the Arkea Ultim Challenge solo circumnavigation, awaits him at Cape Leeuwin, the 115th degree of longitude. High-flyer "Maxi Edmond de Rothschild" - also known as "Gitana 17" from the legendary racing team of the same name - flies eastwards along the ice edge.

Albatrosses accompany Charles Caudrelier on a special encounter in the Southern Ocean

The crew of the 23-year-old deep-sea fishing boat "Mascareignes III", flying the Antarctic flag, experienced some special moments in the Southern Ocean. The organisers of the Arkea Ultim Challenge have now published the pictures. On her course, "Maxi Edmond de Rothschild" raced past the "Mascareignes III" by just a few boat lengths. On board the "Mascareignes III" is Niels Gins, a scientist and fisheries inspector from TAAF, a large ocean-going shipping company.

Niels Gins is an ardent fan of ocean racing and a keen follower of the Arkea Ultim Challenge live tracker. He captured the moments and sent the pictures of the speeding "Maxi Edmond de Rothschild". The giant French foiler can be seen flying amidst albatrosses. "As I sail myself, it was a real pleasure to meet Gitana!" reported Niels Gins, "I look at the tracker every two to three hours, but I didn't think she would fly so close to us."

Charles has favourable conditions as far as Tasmania" (Fred Le Peutrec)

"Charles is travelling at the pace of a single-handed circumnavigation," explained Fred Le Peutrec from the race management. Not too much is currently at stake for the leader of the historic premiere of the Arkea Ultim Challenge. Caudrelier can manage his lead, secure it and look after his boat, said Le Peutrec. And that is also the outlook for the time being. "Charles has favourable conditions right up to Tasmania," said Fred Le Peutrec.

More than 1,400 nautical miles behind Caudrelier, Thomas Coville is sailing a more northerly course on "Sodebo Ultim 3" as there is an area of low pressure to his east. "The area of low pressure has expanded in the centre of Madagascar and is moving south," Fred Le Peutrec continued.

Sailing chess in the Southern Ocean

Coville's technical problem with the starboard foil (breakage of the foil-down system), which has existed since the previous week, currently has little effect on the performance of "Sodebo Ultim 3" because Coville is travelling on the other bow. However, the planned repair at sea is still pending because the current conditions do not appear favourable to the skipper.

Meanwhile, in the duel with the tenacious Anthony Marchand on "Actual Ultim 3", pre-start co-favourite Armel Le Cléac'h on "Maxi Banque Populaire XI" has gained a small cushion of around 80 nautical miles. "You can tell that Armel has moved south again to avoid the high pressure area," commented Fred Le Peutrec on the strategic "chess moves" of the sailors in the southern Indian Ocean. Despite a few setbacks on the morning of 23 February, none of the six French soloists were "checkmated".

Finally ashore! Tom Laperche has now brought the "SVR Lazartigue" safely to Cape Town after a collision with flotsam at a boat speed of 35 knots:

Grey in grey! "Actual Ultim 3" skipper Anthony Marchand sends greetings from the Southern Ocean: