Vendée Arctique: Rodeo in rough seas - only eight soloists left in the race

After a light wind start, a first frontal system and the crossing of an area of high pressure, the soloists in the Vendée Arctique currently have to prove themselves in harsh conditions. The sea has become rougher, the wind has picked up and priorities have shifted. It's no longer just about sailing fast. The challenge exists after the first two nights since the Sunday start It is important to find the right balance between performance, careful handling of the boats and clear judgement.

Tough draw in the Vendée Arctique: Horeau has to give up

"Macsf" skipper Corentin Horeau learnt the hard way just how quickly a minor incident can lead to retirement in these conditions. The Frenchman had to retire with a technical defect. This is bitter for Horeau in his first major Imoca solo. He was in second place behind top favourite Sam Goodchild ("Macif Santé Prévoyance") in the best position to attack when the deck fitting to which the J3 sail neck is attached was torn off at around 9 pm on Monday evening.

For around two hours, Corentin Horeau and his technical team on land examined all the options that could enable a repair and the continuation of the 3,000 nautical mile marathon to the Arctic Circle. However, in view of the conditions expected in the coming days and concerns about more serious consequential damage, the team was forced to abandon the race. Horeau is already on his way back to the team's home port of Lorient.

The Vendée-Arctique competition also reacted to the unfortunate news. Race leader Sam Goodchild said: "I'm sad for Coco. It's tough to see him turn back. He sailed really well and had a great start to the race. To lose a competitor like him is always disappointing. But I'm sure he'll come back even stronger."

West of Ireland on the Vendée-Arctique mogul track

Off the Irish coast, the fleet, now reduced to eight boats, navigated through the toughest conditions yet in this third edition of the Vendée Arctique on the morning of 9 June. According to forecasts, the leading boats have already reached the peak in terms of wind strength and swell. Sam Goodchild had crossed this zone during the night while passing the south-west of Ireland and Dingle Bay on the Vendée Globe-winning yacht "Macif Santé Prévoyance".

By Tuesday morning, the Briton, who lives in France, had gained a good 47 nautical miles on his closest rival Élodie Bonafous. However, she in turn was able to make up ground with "Association Petits Princes - Queguiner" in the rough north-westerly winds of 25 knots, gusting up to more than 30 knots. While the swell exceeded four metres, the top five on Ireland's west coast continued to fight their way north.

The conditions are intense. This morning we had gusts of up to 37 knots. The waves are really huge." Francesca Clapcich

In third to fifth place in the Vendée Arctique on Tuesday morning were Violette Dorange ("Initiatives - Cœur"), Ambrogio Beccaria ("Allagrande Mapei") and Francesca Clapcich ("11th Hour Racing"). The Italian-American had accumulated almost 100 nautical miles behind Sam Goodchild in the morning. She also reported a brief period of seasickness. With greetings to compatriot Ambrogio Beccaria, the skipper of Boris Herrmann's former "Malizia 3" said: "The two Italians are close together. That's a big factor. I try not to let him get away."

Caution and prudence are the order of the day in the Vendée Arctique

Another 100 nautical miles behind her and still around 70 nautical miles away from Ireland's south-west tip, Arnaud Boissières on "April Marine - Recherche Co-Partenaires" was heading north. He was followed by Nico D'Estais on the only non-foiler and Manuel Cousin "Coup de Pouce", around 300 nautical miles behind Sam Goodchild.

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In the race to the Arctic Circle, which the challengers in the Vendée Arctique can pass for the first time at a point of their choice before turning round and starting the return journey, the soloists are currently acting with caution. Ambrogio Beccaria said: "I will give myself some room for manoeuvre when passing Ireland. I might lose a few miles because in these conditions, even a small problem near the coast can quickly become a much bigger problem."

You have to watch everything: your back, your knees, the way you move on the boat. It's not exactly a war zone, but every moment requires concentration." Ambrogio Beccaria

The Italian was also plagued by a power cut during his Vendée-Arctique premiere. Beccaria reported: "Suddenly I found myself in complete darkness. I fixed everything in about twenty minutes, but finding yourself in a blackout on board an Imoca travelling at more than twenty knots is definitely pretty scary."

Water ingress on "Coup de Pouce"

The same sober approach can also be found on board the Coup de Pouce with Manu Cousin. Since the start, the skipper has had to deal with a series of minor problems, which were also related to the short preparation time as a result of the delayed restart. A new hatch installed during the winter caused considerable water ingress before the skipper was finally able to seal it with Sikaflex.

On the fastest boats in the Vendée Arctique heading north, plans are already taking shape for the best approach to the Arctic Circle. With Iceland in mind, Sam Goodchild revealed: "I have ruled out the western option. I am now considering several waypoints to the east of Iceland. This gives me more flexibility and allows me to delay the final decision a little longer."

Ambrogio Beccaria said of the upcoming decision: "It's a real puzzle. The fact that we have to think about the outward journey while we already have the return route in mind is taking up a lot of our attention." Beccaria assumes that the picture will become clearer for him and the others as soon as Ireland is passed. Until the far north arrives, all the soloists continue to be challenged in the here and now, while the Atlantic makes the announcements.

In his words - the end for Corentin Horeau in the Vendée Arctique: