Thursday, July 16, 2020 (Image © François Van Malleghem)
IMOCA Open 60 - Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables - Final Day - successful test event concluded
This morning UTC, Miranda Merron FRA will cross the finish line as 17th and last-ranked of the Vendée Arctique. We reported on the close victory of Jérémy Beyou FRA ('Charal') yesterday. ----- The final test race for the Vendée Globe has herewith been successfully terminated with the conclusion, that the foilers have proven themselves in different conditions. In addition, several participants were able to secure their missing qualifying miles for the Vendée Globe, such as Isabelle Joschke FRA/GER, who was able to keep up with her 12-year-old Open 60, but then fell back due to a broken boom. ----- The news.
After a fast finish, Jérémie Beyou FRA on his 'Charal' terminated the inaugural Vendée Arctique yesterday evening after 10 days and 6 hours as the winner. Only 50 minutes later, Charlie Dalin FRA ('APIVIA') crossed the line on the 2nd position. Thomas Ruyant FRA followed another 20 minutes behind on 3rd. The best woman Samantha Davis GBR on the 4th place had a 1hr 44min backlog on 'Charal'. 12 of the 17 solo skippers still in the race had finished by this morning UTC, among them Boris Herrmann GER on rank 7. ----- The 
This morning UTC, the fleet is sailing on the home stretch direction Les Sables d'Olonne with Jérémy Béyou FRA ('Charal') leading, 264nm left to the finish, roughly 24 hours in the prevailing conditions. Charlie Dalin FRA ('APIVIA'), 4,7nm behind, and Thomas Ruyant FRA ('LinkedOut'), backlog 9,7nm, remain in the fight for victory. Samantha Davis GBR is now on rank 4 with a deficit of 20nm. ----- The 
Reaching the final waypoint 'Gallimard', 500 miles off the French Atlantic Coast this morning around 6 a.m. UTC, the leading trio, all on Open 60 foilers of the latest generation, is now heading to the finish in Les Sables d'Olonne with an expected arrival tomorrow evening. Charlie Dalin FRA ('Apivia') is in the lead, 2.7nm ahead of Jérémy Béyou FRA ('Charal') and with a 5,4nm backlog Thomas Ruyant FRA ('LinkedOut'). On rank 4 follows Kevin Escoffier FRA 20nm behind. The first woman Samantha Davis GBR on the 5th place is 6nm back. After having repaired the main halyard, Boris Herrmann GER is again underway at normal speeds on rank 6 with a deficit of 60nm. ----- The 
The lulll conditions after the rounding of the northern waypoint on the Polar Circle led to a close-up and position changes among the leading boats. New leaders are jointly Jérémy Béyou FRA (Charal) and Boris Herrmann GER (Seaexplorer). Kevin Escoffier FRA (PRB) follows as 3rd with a 2,8nm backlog. The first 10 boats are sailing within 40 miles. ----- The 
Rounding the northern waypoint on the Polar Circle, Thomas Ruyant FRA ('LinkedOut') succeeded to squeeze in ahead of the duo Jérémy Béyou FRA ('Charal') and Charlie Dalin FRA ('APIVIA'). Meanwhile, Ruyant dropped again on rank 6 with a backlog of 17nm. On top now is Charlie Dalin FRA, only 2,7nm ahead of Jérémy Béyou FRA. Kevin Escoffier FRA is new on rank 3, Boris Herrmann GER is 4th, and Samantha Davis GBR 5th only 8nm behind the leader. ----- Lull conditions prevailed yesterday when the fleet reached the most northern point of the race. ----- Considering the light conditions and the small distances between the boats, more position changes may be expected in the coming 48 hours. ----- The 
This Thursday morning at 6h UTC, the first boats reached the northern waypoint 'UNESCO' on the Polar Circle in moderate wind conditions. ----- Charlie Dalin FRA ('APIVIA') had a one-mile lead on Jérémy Béyou FRA ('Charal'). Thomas Ruyant FRA ('LinkedOut') reduced his backlog on 7nm. Samantha Davis GBR ('Initiatives Coeur') followed as 4th with 32nm deficit, 8nm in front of Boris Herrmann GER ('SeaExplorer') on the 5h position. ----- The 
Two weather fronts with winds of up to 40kn have been crossed so far during the race. The approach to the northern waypoint on the Polar Circle continuous now in calmer waters. ----- With a western course, Jérémy Béyou FRA ('Charal') and Charlie Dahlin FRA ('Apivia') managed to overtake the previous leader Thomas Ruyant FRA ('LinkedOut') yesterday, who is now 30 miles behind the top duo. Samantha Davis GBR ('Initiatives Coeur'), who has moved up to fourth place, came up strongly as well. Boris Herrmann GER ('SeaExplorer') and Isabelle Joschke FRA/GER ('MASCF') follow 9 miles behind. The gaps between the Open 60s will shrink further, as the leading pack is currently sailing in a calm transition zone. ----- The 
In fresh winds around 25kn West of Ireland, the fleet is heading North this morning with Thomas Ruyant FRA on his Open 60 'LinkedOut' increasing the advantage continuously. He was 16nm ahead of Jérémy Beyou FRA ('Charal') at the last checkpoint. One mile farther behind followed Charlie Dalin FRA ('APIVIA') on rank 3. Boris Herrmann GER ('SeaExplorer') moved up on the 4th position with a 53nm deficit. The best woman Isabelle Joschke FRA/GER ('MACSF') is on the 6th place leading Samantha Davies GBR ('Initiatives Coeur') and Clarisse Cremer FRA ('Banque Populaire') on the ranks 7 and 8 by a small margin. After Sébastien Simon FRA and Damien Séguin FRA, it was Armel Tripon FRA (L'occitane') yesterday who was forced to abandon the race with structural damages. Apparently, the repairs after a collision with flotsam done in a hurry before the start were not sustainable enough. ----- The 
The 19 Open60 still in the race reached the Fastnet Rock off the Southwest point of Ireland this morning with Thomas Ruyant FRA ('LinkedOut') leading 1,5nm ahead of Charlie Dalin FRA ('Apivia'). On rank 3 followed Jérémy Béyou FRA ('Charal') with a 2,5nm backlog. Boris Herrmann GER ('Seaexplorer') on the 5th place has a 10nm deficit, just ahead of the fist woman Isabelle Joschke FRA/GER. The first to abandon the race was Sébastien Simon FRA ('Arkea Paprec') with a broken foil. Yesterday evening, the two-time Paralympic Champion Damien Séguin FRA ('Apicil') was forced to leave the competition as well with electricity problems. ----- The 
Yesterday in Les Sables d'Olonne FRA, the start to the Vendée Arctique was given in a 20kn breeze. Right from the start, the foilers demonstrated their superiority with higher speed. ----- This Sunday morning, Thomas Ruyant FRA ('LinkedOut') was in the lead closely followed by Kevin Escoffier FRA ('PRB') and Jérémy Béyou FRA ('Charal'). As first women, Isabelle Joschke GER/FRA ('MASCF') had a good start as well occupying rank 5 with a 6,7nm backlog, closely followed by Boris Herrmann GER ('SeaExplorer'). With a damaged foil, Sébastien Simon FRA was already forced to a repair stop. ----- The 
With a wind around 16kn, the sailing conditions during the start at 2.30 pm UTC of the Vendée Arctique should be ideal, and the Foiler-Open 60 will rush off at top speeds! The approximately 3,600-mile route to the Arctic Circle and back to Les Sables via the Azores should take 10-12 days of racing. For the second half of the race, rather sluggish conditions have been forecast. Among the 20 solo skippers are 4 women, with Samantha Davis GBR as one of the co-favorites. You can follow the start this afternoon beginning 2.15 pm UTC on 
Tomorrow afternoon, the start to the Vendée-Arctique-Race, a substitute for the canceled Transatlantic Race, will be given at Les Sables d'Olonne. 20 Solo-Skipper will take place in this tune-up race to the Vendée Globe (start November 8). Alex Thompson GBR, one of the favorites for the next round-the-world race, is not on the entry list. Retired from the race on short notice has also 
