Vendée Globe Rounds Cape Horn at Christmas

While kids were “snug in their beds, while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads,” competitors in the Vendée Globe were marching across the Southern Ocean, passing Point Nemo and rounding Cape Horn. The two leaders, Yoanne Richomme and Charlie Dalin, were fighting to be first around Cape Horn in conditions reasonably comfortable for the notorious Cape.

At various points during the approach they were about one mile apart. Finally, it was Yoann Richomme who managed to pull ahead and round the Horn first before turning to solve the tricky weather patterns facing them as they arc north up the Atlantic.

Richomme led the dream rounding of the Horn on the cusp of Christmas Eve, passing at 23:27:20 UTC on Monday night, in the daylight, just before 2030 local time. With an elapsed time of 43 days 11 hours 25 minutes and 20 seconds (since starting the race on Sunday, November 11), Richomme has broken Armel Le Cléac’h’s 2016 record of 47 days 34 minutes 46 seconds by 3d 13h 9m 26s. He also sets a new mark for the Cape Leeuwin–Cape Horn section at 13d 09h 13m 43s.

Dalin, slightly more offshore, passed nine minutes and 30 seconds behind Richomme and closed the gap to half a mile as they enjoyed the first hours of Christmas Eve in modest conditions.

Dalin passed the longitude of the southernmost tip of South America at 23:36:50 UTC for an elapsed time of 43d 11h 34m 50s.

It was the most perfect leaders’ passage for this 10th edition of the race, which has already broken many prior race records.

Now comes the really tricky part. They have to try to get some sleep, stay alert, and navigate through the many weather systems, the trade winds and the doldrums in the Atlantic as they head north to the finish off Les Sables-d’Olonne. You can continue to follow them here.