Vendée Globe: Short night ahead - Dalin live on NDR on course for coronation!
His summit push is nearing completion: Charlie Dalin is coming! The 40-year-old's main focus is now on managing his boat, resting, but at the same time watching out for potential dangers as he approaches the coast. Everyone knows the story of Boris Herrmann, who had to endure a collision with a fishing boat on his last night four years ago, losing his podium place as a result and finishing fifth at the time.
The Vendée Globe final spurt is underway!
Race leader Charlie Dalin knows the route to Les Sables d'Olonne well. He knows what it means to come back through the canal in first place. He last tasted this feeling after his victory at the New York Vendée Les Sables d'Olonne in early summer. He also kicked off the 2024 Vendée Globe year with a victory at the Vendée Arctique. Although the course had been shortened near Iceland, Dalin had led the fleet in the final parade through the famous canal of Les Sables-d'Olonne.
Four years ago, the father of a young son crossed the finish line of the Vendée Globe in first place on 27 January. Back then, however, he lost the victory due to a time compensation for Yannick Bestaven. These and so many more thoughts must be running through Charlie Dalin's mind as he sails the final nautical miles of his second solo around the world.
At the same time, the anticipation among fans in Les Sables-d'Olonne is growing by the second. Thousands of fans are expected along the canal - at whatever time early Tuesday morning - to pay homage to the new king of the Vendée Globe at the welcome party. The organisers have already called for warm clothing, because just like four years ago, a freezing cold night and a frosty early morning are expected.
The NDR broadcasts the finish live!
If all goes well for Dalin, the question remains as to whether he will be able to continue his jubilant ride through the canal immediately or whether he will have to wait. "It would be possible until 7.30 am," said race director Hubert Lemonnier the day before on the TV programme Vendée Live! The French and international TV stations and their teams are working hard to plan the live broadcasts.
This also applies to NDR in Hamburg, which will also broadcast the winner's arrival live on its online programme. The exact starting times will depend on the arrival times, which by their very nature are not yet known. It is likely to be a very short night for all participants and fans. Charlie Dalin himself recently announced in an Instagram post that it could even be as early as 3am.
Preparations are in full swing at the NDR broadcasting centre. The live programme will be hosted by presenter Sven Kaulbars and NDR sailing expert Tim Kröger. We will also announce the exact broadcast times TV updates in the YACHT live ticker give.
Thrilling duel for fourth place
Meanwhile, 2900 nautical miles behind Charlie Dalin, the thrilling duel for fourth place between the Brit Sam Goodchild ("Vulnerable") and Jérémie Beyou ("Charal") continues breathlessly with a difference of two nautical miles. Like their hunter Paul Meilhat, both have already crossed the equator and are sailing on in the Doldrums. Goodchild crossed the equator in the first hour on Monday - just 3 minutes and 39 seconds ahead of Beyou! "Biotherm" skipper Paul Meilhat followed a good two and a half hours after Goodchild.
We didn't yet have the magic carpet that the leaders had." Jérémie Beyou
Jérémie Beyou commented on the conditions, which for the chasers were once again very different from the favourable winds enjoyed by Dalin and Richomme: "The weather forecast is unclear. We're dealing with a ridge of high pressure and then it looks like a low is coming in. It looks complicated, it looks intense, as it has been since the start of this race."
Goodchild and Beyou had almost reached the more consistent north-easterly wind in the morning of 13 January, which allows them to sail at a tighter wind angle, so the speed advantage could again go to Beyou with its newer, more powerful "Charal" design. With only around 400 nautical miles between fourth and tenth place, the chasing pack can expect a highly exciting final sprint in the northern hemisphere.
Boris Herrmann in attacking mood again
The coming days will show how much Boris Herrmann will be able to get back into the fight for the top places. When his position was updated in the morning of 13 January, the "Malizia - Seaexplorer" skipper still had around 160 nautical miles to go to the equator. He is also expected there shortly for his second Vendée Globe. In lighter winds again recently, Boris Herrmann was around 70 nautical miles behind "Vulnerable" skipper Thomas Ruyant in ninth place. He held a lead of around 80 nautical miles over Justine Mettraux.
Vendée Live! Click here for the organisers' live broadcast, which is scheduled as usual for 2.30 pm on 13 January. In addition to interesting guests such as Boris Herrmann's co-skipper Will Harris and the Herrmann chaser Clarisse Crémer ("Loccitane en Provence"), there will be lots of information about the arrival of Charlie Dalin and Yoann Richomme:
Here Charlie Dalin explains his boat before the Vendée Globe start:
