Vendée Globe: Nico Lunven leads, Sam Goodchild enjoys "scrambled eggs with the Queen"

Sam Goodchild is British. This explains why a waving miniature of the British monarch, who died in 2022, is travelling on board with him on the Vendée Globe course. "The Queen and I enjoyed a scrambled egg together today," the "Vulnerable" skipper announced with a smile on Thursday morning, before moving on to the more serious part of his message.

Click here to go directly to the live tracker.

The 34-year-old had already led the field off the Portuguese coast, but then had to make up some ground with autopilot problems and slipped back to fifth place. He has since moved up to third place again with the second autopilot. He is chasing the new leader and 24-hour solo record holder Nico Lunven ("Holcim - PRB") and the second-placed "Paprec Arkéa" skipper Yoann Richomme.

Vendée Globe: Goodchild steps on the gas

Behind Sam Goodchild are his boss and racing team colleague Thomas Ruyant ("Vulnerable") and Jérémie Beyou ("Charal"). However, the problems with his first autopilot have not yet been resolved for Goodchild. Behind the former pupil of Mike Golding, Alex Thomson and the Artemis Offshore Academy lies an unpleasant night with a sunshot and hard hours.

"Unfortunately, I had more autopilot problems during the night. It's a bit tiring," explained the battle-hardened Briton the morning after, as if he had just knocked over a coffee. According to Goodchild, he will probably have to wait until the weekend to be able to repair the autopilot when there is less wind. The situation is clearly not deterring the hard-boiled pilot from continuing at full throttle.

Nico Lunven has surprised himself

Nico Lunven has done just that. And how! After his 24-hour solo record run the day before, Boris Herrmann's former Ocean Race navigator gave a refreshing account of the "very pleasant sailing conditions". The always modest Frenchman, nicknamed "The Brain", said of his record: "It was also a bit of a surprise for me. I didn't expect the record, I wasn't looking for it. But I'm also a bit proud of it."

The "Holcim - PRB" skipper had set a 24-hour solo mile record of 546.60 nautical miles the day before, but this has yet to be officially ratified. Will the record hold until the end of the race? Nico Lunven is more likely to bet on more fabulous runs: "I think our boats are very, very fast today. I think we can be even better. I had nice conditions, but they weren't perfect." At the same time, the level-headed 41-year-old scion of a passionate sailing family also warned as the front runner: "This race is still very long. So much can still happen."

140 nautical miles north-west of the Canary Islands, the soloists continued to head south at the start of the fifth Vendée Globe day. The wind conditions did not yet promise immediate relief for those needing calm for repairs. "The big race south to the Cape of Good Hope is underway. Everyone is fighting to maybe get down there with a lead," explained Ocean Race sailor Alan Roberts, who is keeping a close eye on the race.

Vendée Globe favourite Dalin under pressure

Even for the top favourite Charlie Dalin, things have not yet gone as smoothly as hoped. According to the "Macif Santé Prévoyance" skipper, who is in sixth place, he did not sleep last night. Dalin stated in various interviews that he had made some bad decisions. The 40-year-old seemed a little less confident than usual. This unsettled initial phase obviously also took its toll on the runner-up of the last edition.

Compatriot Clarisse Crémer was initially "very disappointed" after losing her biggest gennaker, but reported a "happy life" on board again on Thursday afternoon. The "L'Occitane en Provence" skipper spoke of her "mixed feelings" regarding her performance to date. She had suffered some losses due to the loss of the gennaker and was in a "complicated situation" with regard to the prevailing winds, but had been in a positive mood again overall.

On the afternoon of 14 November, Clarisse Crémer was in 17th place behind the British rider Samantha Davies on "Initiatives - Cœuer". Clarisse Crémer's husband, "Lazare" skipper Tanguy Le Turquais, was in 21st place at the time. Meanwhile, Mount Everst conqueror Maxime Sorel continues to fight on all fronts. Handicapped by his foot injury, the "V and B - Monbana - Mayenne" skipper continues to have problems with his mainsail. The slider for the mainsail halyard is blocked at the third reef.

Pip Hare in the Vendée Globe rhythm

British rider Pip Hare, on the other hand, was able to report that she has "found her rhythm". Positioned further west, she has moved up to 22nd place with "Medallia". She explained: "It's tight out here. If you take your speed out for a sail change, you lose miles - and quickly lose places too." Compared to her Vendée Globe premiere, however, she feels good: "Back then, we had just gone through the second front. Those lows were awful!"

Pip Hare recalled: "I was below deck and watched the winds swell up to 50 knots! Everything was shaking and shuddering... Back then, we had just made it through on day four and were just relieved." Now, says Pip Hare, they have already passed Madeira. But: "We're facing pretty dead trade winds."

Another way to "enjoy" your breakfast - on board with Sam Goodchild: