(January 22, 2017; Day 78, 22:00 FR) – Two consecutive attempts at the Vendée Globe lasted no more than 17 days for Jérémie Beyou, but the highly talented French skipper should finally complete the famous solo round the world race Monday afternoon, or evening, and secure third place.
After being forced out by rig damage to his Delta Dore on Day 17 in November 2008 and then by keel damage to his previous Maître CoQ on the ninth day of the 2012-13 race, greater and greater levels of patience are bit one more virtue that Beyou has had to add to his list of competitive attributes.
He has been snared by extremely light winds over the last few days, his progress towards the finishing line in Les Sables d’Olonne has been extremely slow. At times today and last night he has been making just 1 knot.
The finish line can now no longer come quick enough for the soloist who started out as one of the favorites to win. During this Sunday afternoon over a four hour period Beyou made just 2.9NMs.
While less than 200 miles from the finish, Beyou is struggling to find enough breeze to complete his race, some 250 miles north east of the Azores, the three cornered battle between Jean-Pierre Dick, Yann Eliès and Jean Le Cam has seen Dick step 25 miles clear today in 20-30kts S’ly breezes.
French sailor Armel Le Cléac'h won the Vendée Globe in one of the most thrilling finishes the solo round the world race has ever seen on Thursday. After 74 days and almost 24,500 nautical miles of first-class ocean racing Le Cléac'h was crowned victor. Click here for the story of Le Cléac'h’s triumph.
Le Cléac'h long-running battle with British skipper Alex Thomson for the top spot in the solo round the world race ended with Thomson finishing second 15 hours behind Le Cléac'h. Click here for the story of Thomson’s finish.
Ranking (Top 5 of 29 as of 22:00 FR)
1. Banque Populaire VIII, Armel Le Cléac’h (FRA), Finished, 74d 03h 35m 46s
2. Hugo Boss, Alex Thomson (GBR), Finished, 74d 19h 35m 15s (+15h 59m 29s)
3. Maître CoQ, Jérémie Beyou (FRA), 190 nm to Finish
4. StMichel-Virbac, Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA), 925 nm
5. Queguiner – Leucemie Espoir, Yann Elies, (FRA), 950 nm
Race details – Tracker - Ranking - Facebook – VendeeGlobe TV