Vendée Globe: Charlie Dalin crosses the Equator in the lead and launches the final sprint

The final sprint towards Les Sables-d’Olonne is underway in this Vendée Globe! Charlie Dalin (Macif Santé Prévoyance) crossed the Ecuador this Sunday, January 5 at 3:38 p.m., the last important crossing point between now and the end of this solo sailing trip around the world. After 56 days, two hours, 36 minutes and 23 seconds of racing, he is 128 miles ahead of his first pursuer, Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa).

After descending the Atlantic, crossing the Indian and then Pacific Oceans, Charlie Dalin and his direct pursuer are only ten days away from completing their world tour.

The two leaders, who have shared the lead since passing Cape Horn, took advantage of the trade winds, these regular winds which pushed them towards the Equator to increase the gap with Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil), who is now leading more than 800 nautical miles away. “The trade wind conditions are stable with around fifteen knots of wind, light seas, summer conditions,” commented Fabien Delahaye, member of the race management this Sunday morning. Everything is conducive to going quickly! » for the two leading men.

An arrival in Les Sables-d’Olonne planned for around January 15

Dalin and Richomme are preparing to return to the Doldrums and its instability in the coming hours, before sailing along the west coast of Africa one last time and finally reaching Les Sables-d’Olonne. According to forecasts given by the organizers, the two sailors should return to dry land between January 14 and 15, with for the moment, a slight advantage for Charlie Dalin.

During the descent of the Atlantic on the way out, at the start of this Vendée Globe, it was Thomas Ruyant (Vulnerable) who crossed the Equator in first position. The Northerner, now 4th in the race, was a few miles ahead of Sam Goodchild (Vulnerable) and Charlie Dalin (Macif Santé Prévoyance), then third. Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa) was in sixth place.