For days, Alex Thomson fans had to listen with horror to the latest status of the tracker in the morning, but now the break is finally complete: since the weekend, the leading "Banque Populaire VIII" has been sailing at full speed towards Cape Horn in a low pressure system, while Alex Thomson and his "Hugo Boss" are "stuck" in a high. The average speed of the Frenchman is constantly four, five or even more knots above that of his pursuer. At 9 o'clock this morning, the gap was 515 nautical miles. The trend: rapidly increasing.
Le Cléac'h is therefore likely to sail to the Cape with a comfortable two-day lead. Nevertheless, there is a small ray of hope for the runner-up, at least for Tuesday: The high is slowly moving north and bringing more wind, which should level out the speed disadvantage somewhat, although Thomson will have to sail on starboard bow without a foil. In addition, the leading Le Cléac'h, which has practically ideal conditions until shortly before Cape Horn, could be confronted with headwinds at the Cape at the end of the week - but there are still many question marks over that.
However, Alex Thomson will be relieved to see that his pursuers Paul Meilhat ("SMA") and Jérémie Beyou ("Maitre Coq") are no longer closing in on him. They are around 800 miles behind him and are heading towards the centre of a depression that should either give them little wind or a diversion. With a bit of luck, they might be able to keep their pursuers at bay until they reach the cape.
At the back of the field, Thomas Ruyant is limping towards New Zealand at 6 knots with his "Le Souffle du Nord", which was badly damaged after a collision, and with a bit of luck should arrive there tomorrow evening - just in time before the next 50-knot storm approaches from the west. His compatriot Stéphane Le Diraison is on his way to Australia or Tasmania under emergency rigging after the mast broke, but will need a few more days to get there.
Andreas Fritsch
Editor Travel
