While the top three are galloping towards Point Nemo in the Pacific, the chasers have lost miles overnight. With the ice edge slightly raised to the north by around 60 nautical miles - the fifth shift in the Antarctic exclusion zone since the start of the race - the chasers have adjusted their courses. Their jibe zigzag led them north-westwards towards latitude 54 degrees south, where the raised ice edge lies shortly before reaching the longitude of Point Nemo.
Vendée-Globe dominator Dalin steps on the gas again
Around 300 nautical miles off Point Nemo, pacemaker Charlie Dalin is doing what he has mostly done in this tenth Vendée Globe: After a lengthy but successful repair of a sail over a total of around 36 hours on 18 December, he has again easily pulled away from Yoann Richomme ("Paprec Arkéa") and Sébastien Simon ("Groupe Dubreuil").
After yesterday's bow-to-bow speed fun with his "playmates", Charlie Dalin has extended this small lead over Richomme to around 30 nautical miles and over Simon to just under 50 nautical miles. Charlie Dalin also provided the reason for the renewed muscle show. "I repaired a sail over 36 hours and am now back to 100 per cent," explained the Frenchman on Wednesday.
Charlie Dalin, who was the leader of one of the four-hour position updates for the 153rd time on the morning of 19 December, is now sailing "ahead" of Armel Le Cléac'h's eight-year-old Vendée Globe record (74 days, 3 hours, 35 minutes), as are Yoann Richomme and Seb Simon. Their first pursuer on Thursday morning was "Vulnerable" skipper Thomas Ruyant, 744 nautical miles behind - that's more than an entire Fastnet race.
Although the leading group is currently leading the field so confidently and Yoann Richomme's prediction from the previous day ("The chasers won't catch up with us for quite a while") is coming true for the time being, this does not necessarily have to be a permanent situation. Defending champion Yannick Bestaven ("Maitra Coq V"), who was in seventh place at the end of the 39th race day, a good 900 nautical miles behind, said: "So many things will still happen, nothing is out of the question. Not even for the leaders. I remember four years ago when I spent a lot of time slowed down off Brazil..."
Boris Herrmann advances further
Boris Herrmann had moved up to eighth place behind Yannick Bestaven late on Wednesday evening. At the end of the 39th race day, the "Malizia - Seaexplorer" skipper was still separated from Bestaven by around 90 nautical miles in the early morning of 19 December. "Biotherm" skipper Paul Meilhat and "Vulnerable" skipper Sam Goodchild sailed 33 and 45 nautical miles behind their German rival.
A larger gap has now opened up behind these two tail-enders in the top ten. Pursuer Justine Mettraux ("TeamWork - Team Snef") was almost 200 nautical miles behind Sam Goodchild in eleventh place. Clarisse Crémer ("L'Occitane en Provence") and Sam Davies ("Initiatives - Coeur") fell back sharply after missing the point-nemo move - as they themselves had feared and announced. On the morning of 19 December, they were separated from frontman Charlie Dalin by almost 2000 nautical miles!
Sam Davies' heartfelt message to Pip Hare
Sam Davies sent a few messages and clips in the morning to show that she was at least able to spend the day on the other side of the world under blue skies. She also wore her famous red heart-shaped glasses and made the best of the losses she had suffered. The British skipper, who lives in France, also had a message for her compatriot Pip Hare, saying: "Pip, I also sent you a direct message when it happened. I just want to say how sorry I am! How sad I am for you after such an incredible race!"
Addressing Pip Hare, Sam Davies continued: "You looked like you were having so much fun too. And I have to say that I really enjoy this race too. That just makes it even sadder that you're not here anymore. Take care of your boat, get to Australia safe and sound. I know you'll be back."
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