Offshore Racing

There is still excitement and action .... from the battle for 4th place to the final trio, the last to round Cape Horn today. ----- Jérémy Beyou FRA and 20 miles behind him Sam Goodchild GBR were still 1250 miles short of the finish line this morning. South of the Azores, the two have reached a storm depression expected to bring 50 knots and more! 150 miles behind them. Paul Meilhat FRA and Nicolas Lunven FRA are in a duel for 6th place. 150 miles farther behind them lurks Justine Mettraux SUI, who wants to sail around the hurricane center on an easterly course. Boris Herrmann GER has lost more ground with his damaged Open 60 and is now 13th. Romain Attanasio FRA crossed the equator tonight in 14th place, 1,000 miles behind Herrmann. The chasing quintet, led by Damien Séguin FRA, who are only 80 miles apart, will also cross the equator today. Alan Roura SUI has finally reached the southerly trade winds, together with Jean Le Cam FRA - his video of the day today from the top of the mast (he had to repair the broken forestay) - the Genevan has lost a lot with his strategy and is already some way behind in 22nd and 23rd.

In the flat transition zone from trade winds to the westerly wind belt, the first group of the fleet has moved together: 1680 miles from the finish, only 153 miles separate Sam Goodchild GBR (4th place) from Justine Mettraux SUI (8th place). Due to losing a foil, Boris Herrmann GER has dropped to 12th place. The strategy of Alan Roura SUI with a route in the center of the South Atlantic has not proved successful, as the group on the South American coast has pulled away and is 400 miles ahead. Oliver Heer SUI is still in a wind hole in 29th place. ----- The race tracker and the reports.

After Sébastien Simon FRA finished 3rd yesterday, there is now a week's break in Les Sables d'Olonne: Sam Goodchild GBR and Jérémy Béyou FRA in 4th and 5th place were still 1830 miles away from the finish this morning, with Paul Meilhat FRA 75 miles behind. Today there is a flat transition zone to cross, the other chasers are also likely to move up; Nicolas Lunven FRA follows 145 miles behind and Justine Mettraux SUI is in 8th place 246 miles behind 4th place. After losing a foil, Boris Herrmann GER can no longer quite keep up and has dropped further back in 10th place. Alan Roura SUI is still waiting for wind in the middle of the South Atlantic, he is now 21st. Oliver Heer SUI is still 29th. The race tracker and the reports are now available.

3rd place for Sébastien Simon FRA (Groupe Dubreuil), who reached Les Sables d'Olonne at 1.30am this morning. Despite a broken foil he was able to keep the chasing group under control since Cape Horn. The chasing group is likely to be underway for another week. Sam Goodchild GBR and Jérémy Beyou FRA in 4th and 5th place are still 2,000 miles behind, Justine Mettraux SUI is still 8th, Boris Herrmann SUI damaged one of his foils in a collision and hopes to at least be able to save 10th place at the finish. Alan Roura SUI follows in 20th place, Oliver Heer SUI is still 29th. The race tracker and the reports.

Sébastien Simon FRA was still 145 miles short of the finish this morning, in light winds, he is currently sailing his last miles close to the coast of Brittany, and he should arrive in Les Sables d'Olonne in the night to tomorrow in 3rd place. Ranks 4-6 (Beyou FRA/Goodchild GBR/Meilhat FRA) are only 70 miles apart. Nicolas Lunven FRA follows 100 miles behind, with Justine Mettraux SUI a further 120 miles back in 8th place. 180 miles behind the Swiss is Boris Herrmann GER in 10th place. The action in the South Atlantic remains exciting: Isabelle Joschke FRA in 15th place is only 122 miles ahead of Jean Le Cam FRA (22nd place) - in the middle in 20th place is Alan Roura SUI. At the height of the Falkland Islands, Oliver Heer SUI (29th place) is already looking forward to the warmer temperatures! In 30th and 31st place, Antoine Cornic FRA and Jingkun Xu CHN also rounded Cape Horn yesterday. The race tracker and the reports.

This morning, Yoann Richomme FRA ('Paprec-Arkea') crossed the finish line in 2nd place, 23 hours behind Charlie Dalin FRA ('Macif'). He is now followed by Sébastien Simon FRA, who is in 3rd place with 425 miles to go. Jérémy Beyou FRA and Sam Goodchild GBR still lead the chasing group. Justine Mettraux SUI has moved up to 8th place, followed 130 miles behind by Boris Herrmann GER in 10th place. Alan Roura SUI is now 17th, Oliver Heer SUI has passed Cape Horn in 29th place. ----- The race tracker and the reports.

Victory for Charlie Dalin FRA ('macif') ! At full moon and editorial closing time (a little later today) Dalin was at the finish line - see the live broadcast above - with 64 days and 19 hours will improve the record of Armel Le Cléac'h by 10 days! Yoann Richomme FRA ('Paprec Arkea') is also expected in Les Sables d'Olonne from midday. Sébastien Simon FRA in 3rd place is still 823 miles behind this morning. A trio has broken away in the battle for 4th place: Jéremy Beyou FRA and Sam Goodchild GBR have been sailing aboard for days, with Paul Meilhat FRA following just 15 miles behind. 250 miles behind Meilhat, Justine Mettraux SUI has accelerated with a slightly more easterly course and has already overtaken Boris Herrmann GER. In 9th place, she is now only 10 miles behind Thomas Ruyant FRA! In the large chasing group in the South Atlantic, Romain Attanasio FRA was able to pull away around 100 miles in 14th place. He is followed in 15th place by Jean Le Cam FRA. Like Le Cam, Alan Roura SUI has also chosen a more easterly route and has thus already crossed the flat zone and accelerated again. Having dropped back to 19th place, he will move up again today. Great day for Oliver Heer SUI, who is about to round Cape Horn - in fresh winds! ----- The race tracker and the reports.

It's the last day for Charlie Dalin FRA! This morning, he was 209 miles short of the finish line, which he would reach at midnight as the winner in a new record time. Tomorrow, Yoann Richomme FRA, 193 miles behind, will follow. Sébastien Simon FRA is sailing unchallenged as 3rd at the height of the Azores, and he is expected in Les Sables d'Olonne on Wednesday. In the chasing pack, a trio has managed to pull away and pass the equator tonight. Sam Goodchild GBR is still just ahead of Jérémy Beyou FRA, and Paul Meilhat FRA follows 40 miles behind. Boris Herrmann GER in 9th place is now 90 miles ahead of Justine Mettraux SUI. The second large chasing group has to cross a lull zone today. A small group with Jean Le Cam FRA (rank 15) and Alan Roura SUI (rank 17) are trying their luck in the east and should be the first to reach fresh winds today. In stronger winds, Oliver Heer SUI should pass Cape Horn today. Following the retirement of Eric Bellion FRA, the Swiss sailor has moved up to 29th place. ----- The race tracker and the reports.

Charlie Dalin FRA was still 660 miles short of the finish today with Yoann Richomme FRA 133 miles behind. Dalin was already the first to reach the finish 4 years ago. He was pushed into 2nd place by Yannick Bestaven FRA who got a time credit for a rescue operation. Now it seems to be working! The chasing group has stretched out a bit: Sam Goodchild GBR is now in 4th place 450 miles ahead of Justine Mettraux SUI (10th place). 100 miles ahead of the Swiss is Boris Herrmann GER still 9th - he had to climb onto the masthead yesterday for a repair. Jean Le Cam FRA, whose non-foiler is making good progress in the mostly light winds, continues to cause a stir: he has moved up to 14th place. Alan Roura SUI is now 17th. Oliver Heer SUI in 30th place should benefit from good conditions for the last 1,000 miles to Cape Horn. ----- The race tracker and the reports.

After two canceled record attempts, François Gabart FRA's Ultime trimaran Trimaran 'SVR Lazartigue' is now ready to start again following repairs. The next good weather window should see the start. ----- The report.

The leading duo was only briefly slowed down by an intermediate zone yesterday and is now traveling at speeds of around 20 knots towards the finish. ----- The podium places seem to be taken: Charlie Dalin FRA is 177 miles ahead of Yoann Richomme FRA, while Sébastien Simon FRA, sailing in 3rd place, is already 815 miles behind. The battle for 4th place continues to rage in the South Atlantic: Sam Goodchild GBR holds this position this morning with a lead of just 6 miles over Jérémy Beyou FRA. A further 40 miles behind is Boris Herrmann GER in 6th place. Justine Mettraux SUI is 10th, 170 miles behind 4th place. The next chasing pack is also sailing close together: Romain Attanasio FRA (14th) and Alan Roura SUI (17th) are only just 10 miles apart. Big moment for Violette Dorange FRA who passed Cape Horn yesterday in 27th place. Next up is Oliver Heer SUI, who should reach the Cape on Sunday in 30th place. ----- The race tracker and the reports.

Charlie Dalin FRA still has 2,000 miles to go to the finish, his lead over Yoann Richomme FRA is almost 200 miles this morning. The last hurdle today is a flat transition zone, which will slow them down. This will allow Sébastien Simon FRA in 3rd place to make up some of his deficit (752 miles). The tight chasing pack is led this morning by Sam Goodchild GBR in 4th place, Boris Herrmann GER follows 30 miles behind in 6th place. Only 140 miles behind 4th is Justine Mettraux SUI in 10th place. The second chasing group with Romain Attanasio FRA, Damien Séguin FRA, the still surprising Jean Le Cam FRA and now also Alan Roura SUI is sailing only 15 miles apart. Today Arnaud Boissières FRA, Violette Dorange FRA and Eric Béllion FRA will round the Cape Horn, the three have slowed down before the Cape to avoid bad weather. Next up is Oliver Heer SUI in 30th place, but he has other worries at the moment: He has got into an iceberg zone, only the big ones are shown on the radar ! The race tracker and the reports.

On the finish stretch! ----- Charlie Dalin FRA still has 2,400 miles - around 7 days - to go to the finish, which he or his last rival, Yoann Richomme FRA, 167 miles behind, will reach in a new record time. The last obstacle is the flat zone of the Azores High. Sébastien Simon FRA is well on his way to 3rd place, 718 miles behind, while the battle for 4th place rages on the South Atlantic! This morning Jérémy Beyou FRA, sailing in the west, is in the lead, only 3 miles behind is Sam Goodchild GBR, and another 9 miles behind follows Boris Herrmann GER in 6th place. Justine Mettraux SUI has dropped back to 10th place, 150 miles behind Beyou FRA this morning, but is the fastest on the course with good wind forecasts: she will have made up some ground by the time the race tracker is next updated at 11 am. Alan Roura SUI, still 17th, is also catching up: he is only 80 miles behind the group led by Romain Attanasio FRA (14th). Oliver Heer SUI in 30th place has finally picked up speed again and will reach Cape Horn in 7 days. ----- The race tracker and the reports.

Charlie Dalin FRA and 112 miles behind him Yoann Richomme FRA are now making good progress in the northerly trade winds. There are still 2,700 miles (around 10 days) to go to the finish, the decision will probably only be made when they cross a flat transition zone to the westerly wind belt. Tonight Sébastien Simon FRA also crossed the equator, and he should bring his 3rd place to the finish despite a damaged foil. Jérémy Beyou FRA is now in 4th place, 2084 miles behind. Also in the group with Beyou is Boris Herrmann GER, who is in 7th place 31 miles behind Beyou. 45 miles behind Herrmann, Justine Mettraux SUI has moved up to 8th place. Jean Le Cam FRA has progressed to 14th place as the best non-foiler. Alan Roura SUI is still unchallenged in 17th place, Oliver Heer SUI has finally reached moderate winds after 6 days in the calms. ----- The race tracker and the reports.

In the middle of the South Indian Ocean on the approach to Cape Leeuwin, the Ultime trimaran 'Sodebo' lost the center hull rudder yesterday. Without this, the trimaran's potential can no longer be fully exploited. Thomas Coville FRA and his team have canceled the attempt and are going to Australia for a repair stop. ----- The report and the race tracker.

After 56 days and 2 hours, Charlie Dalin FRA was the first to cross the equator yesterday, followed 8 hours later by Yoann Richomme FRA. There are 3000 miles to go to the finish, and the two are on course for a record (84 days 10 hours). Sébastien Simon FRA will cross the equator today in 3rd place. He is progressing well on his ‘healthy bow’ (with foil) and has reduced his deficit to 781 miles. The chasing group (ranks 4-10) is still only 140 miles apart. This is likely to change today as they have split up to avoid a doldrums zone: The ‘north group’ seems to be benefiting at the moment, with Boris Herrmann GER in the middle in 7th place. 80 miles behind him, Justine Mettraux SUI has moved up to 8th place. After Cape Horn Alan Roura SUI is unchallenged in 17th place. Tonight is rush hour at Cape Horn: Ranks 20-29 reach the magic last mark almost simultaneously. Conditions like on Lake Zurich for Oliver Heer SUI - he has been in the doldrums in the ‘Howling Fifties’ for 4 days now, still in 30th place. ----- The race tracker and the reports.

Yesterday, the Ultime Trimaran 'Sodebo' passed the Kerguelen Islands in the South Indian Ocean. Despite a good speed - 766 miles/24h - Thomas Coville FRA and his team are stil, 188 miles behind the record this morning. ----- The race tracker and the Facebook page.

Today, Charlie Dalin FRA and 121 miles behind him Yoann Richomme FRA will cross the equator. One of the two is likely to win, as Sébastien Simon FRA in 3rd place is already 792 miles behind. But the chasers have moved closer together: 4th (Thomas Ruyant FRA) to 10th (Justine Mettraux SUI) are only 300 miles apart. 120 miles ahead of the Swiss is Boris Herrmann GER in 9th place. In stormy conditions, Alan Roura SUI rounded Cape Horn tonight in 17th place. Oliver Heer SUI is still making little progress in the calm of the South Pacific, and he remains on the 30th. ----- The race tracker and the reports.

Despite continuing their good speed - 709 miles in 24 hours, 36 knots - Thomas Coville FRA and his team with their 'Sodebo' lost further distance to the record yesterday: the advantage has turned into a gap of 267 miles. No wonder, Francis Joyon FRA with his IDEC covered 890 miles in 2017 on the same day...and in the following days. ----- The race tracker and the Facebook page.

The leading duo has now reached the southerly trade winds and accelerated: ----- Charlie Dalin FRA was the first to pull away and is now 127 miles ahead of Yoann Richomme FRA. Sébastien Simon FRA in 3rd place is making less progress off the coast of Brazil, and his gap has grown to 514 miles. Thomas Ruyant in 4th lost his most important headsail in a thunderstorm and will probably soon be overtaken by Paul Meilhat FRA, who is still making the fastest progress. The rest of the chasing pack is still close together; Nicolas Lunven (6th) is 200 miles ahead of Justine Mettraux SUI (10th), who is only 60 miles behind Sam Goodchild GBR and Boris Herrmann GER. In 16th place and thus the first non-foiler, Jean Le Cam FRA rounded Cape Horn tonight. Next up today is Alan Roura SUI, who can expect stormy conditions with winds of around 45 knots. Oliver Heer SUI in 30th place has finally found some wind, which is helping him to make some progress again. ----- The race tracker and the reports.

In the South Indian Ocean, the trimaran Sodebo is still travelling fast at 36 knots, but has lost further of its lead on the record and is just 82 miles ahead this morning. The race tracker.

Today Charlie Dalin FRA and 52 miles behind him Yoann Richomme FRA should reach the southerly trade winds, which will bring them quickly to the equator. However, they are still making slow progress, which has allowed Sébastien Simon FRA in third place to make up some ground close to the coast of Brazil: This morning he was still 315 miles behind. Thomas Ruyant FRA, sailing in 4th place, was hit by a violent storm front with 60 knots yesterday and lost his most important headsail. Boris Herrmann GER is now 1620 miles behind in 9th place, 130 miles behind Justine Mettraux SUI in 10th place. Today Romain Attanasio FRA, Damien Séguin FRA and later Jean Le Cam FRA will pass Cape Horn in 14th-16th place. Tomorrow Alan Roura SUI will follow in 17th place. For 48 hours now, Oliver Heer SUI has been in the centre of a high pressure area in the doldrums and is hardly making any progress. The race tracker and the reports.

Thomas Coville FRA and his team are still progressing on the South Indian Ocean, currently at 36 knots (66 km/h). Nevertheless, they have lost some ground on the record, but the lead is still 347 miles. ----- The race tracker and the Facebook page.

Shortly before New Year's Eve, 12 Mini 5.80s set off from Lagos POR on a transat that will take them via the Canary Islands to Antigua, where the Mini Globe Race will start at the end of February.... on self-built 5m80 yachts (which can be ordered as kits). In Antigua, 15 Minis will be at the start, including Renaud Stittelmann SUI and Christian Sauer GER. ----- There is a race tracker of the current race, but it is not yet operational. Here is the report from the start.

This morning the leading duo Charlie Dalin FRA and 21 miles behind Yoann Richomme FRA are still in a flat transition zone, but this afternoon they will reach the southerly trade winds. Sébastien Simon FRA in 3rd place is also battling with flat conditions: Close to the coast of Brazil, he is 348 miles behind this morning. The chasing group (ranks 6 to 11) is still only 130 miles apart. Boris Herrmann GER is 9th, followed 60 miles behind by Justine Mettraux SUI in 10th place. Yesterday Clarisse Cremer FRA, Benjamin Dutreux FRA and Samantha Davis GBR also passed Cape Horn. Next up is the group with Alan Roura SUI who has established himself in 17th place. Oliver Heer SUI is currently in the doldrums in 30th place. The race tracker and the reports.

After 11 days, 15 hours and 11 minutes, the Ultime trimaran Sodebo with Thomas Coville FRA and his team rounded the Cape of Good Hope yesterday - 556 miles ahead of the record set by the trimaran IDEC. The latter crossed the Indian Ocean 7 years ago in a fabulous record time with an average speed of 38 knots! The race tracker.

The leading duo has not yet reached the southerly trade winds, but made good progress yesterday in the South Atlantic. Charlie Dalin FRA is leading this morning with an 80-mile lead over Yoann Richomme FRA. Sébastien Simon FRA in 3rd place is currently in the calm, his gap has grown to 342 miles. The chasing group in places 5-10 is still only 150 miles apart: Boris Herrmann GER in 9th place is now 53 miles ahead of Justine Mettraux SUI in 10th place, while the second chasing group with Alan Roura SUI is breaking up: Jean Le Cam FRA has been accelerating for two days in 16th place and has opened up a 200-mile lead on his former companions. He is now followed in 17th place by Alan Roura SUI. Oliver Heer SUI is sailing alone along the ice edge in light winds in 30th place. The race tracker and the reports.

'Sodebo' also made good progress yesterday on the 11th day of their round-the-world record attempt. Today, Thomas Coville FRA and his team should pass the Cape of Good Hope. The lead on the record is now 650 miles. ----- The race tracker.

Charlie Dalin FRA back in the lead ! In the still inconsistent conditions on the South Atlantic Yoann Richomme FRA had to let his pursuer pass, and the gap this morning is 20 miles. The day's winner yesterday was again Sébastien Simon FRA, who has now made up 400 miles in 3 days and is only 272 miles behind. Ranks 5-10 are still only 100 miles apart. Boris Herrmann GER in 9th place is now 70 miles ahead of Justine Mettraux SUI. Yannik Bestaven FRA (2020 winner), sailing in 11th place, had to abandon the race with the damaged rudder system and turned off at Cape Horn for a repair stop. Alan Roura SUI is now 18th, Oliver Heer SUI follows in 30th place. ----- The race tracker and the reports.

With 834 miles in 24 hours, Thomas Coville FRA and his 'Sodebo' team also made rapid progress yesterday and were able to extend their lead on the record to 747 miles. The race tracker with reports and videos.