After dismasting just before 0800hrs French time this morning while fast reaching in the trade winds, 270 miles north west of the Cape Verde Islands, Nico Troussel and the team of CORUM L’Epargne become the first racer to officially abandon the 2020 Vendée Globe.
Nico Troussel had spoken to the 0500hrs radio call and was in good shape, sailing at up to 22kts boat speed under a single reefed main and fractional code zero. This evening the double winner of the La Solitaire du Figaro is making to the Cape Verde Islands at around 3 knots, expecting to take around three to four days to get there.
Leader Hugo Boss At The Doldrums Tomorrow Morning
Race leader Alex Thomson was being chased hard today by his French foiling rivals. The British skipper has 85 miles in hand over second placed Jean Le Cam and 120 miles on the hard driving Thomas Ruyant.
He will likely slow down entering the Doldrums tomorrow, Tuesday morning. Weather modeling predicts a smooth passage for Thomson, but the five-times Vendée Globe racer maintains low expectations, “They look lovely…for the Doldrums, but you know what happens there. You get stuck. It is like a little game, they entice you in and tell you it is going to be alright and then….they trap you, like Charal in the Jacques Vabre last year. I am not going to be fooled. I expect the worst and anything less will be a bonus.” said Thomson this morning on a video call.
Jérémie Beyou Will Restart Tuesday
Jérémie Beyou, the 44 year old French skipper who had to sail 600 miles back to Les Sables d’Olonne after damage to his Charal on the second evening of the solo non-stop around-the-world race, has confirmed that he will re-start the race on Tuesday afternoon despite the leaders being around 2,500 nautical miles south, approaching the Doldrums tomorrow.
