Charlie Dalin ready to face the first violent southern storm in the Vendée Globe

Charlie Dalin aboard MACIF Santé Prévoyance - 2024 Vendée Globe © Charlie Dalin

She has been making headlines in the Vendée Globe since the beginning of the week. The immense depression, 1,800 km long and high, is already beginning to cross the head of the fleet, sweeping the Indian Ocean with gusts of more than 40 knots and waves of nearly 4 metres.

In 48 hours, it will be at its peak: 60 knots of wind and waves of 8 metres. Charlie Dalin, still in control of the race, chose to continue his route east in the hope of staying ahead of this depression. Contacted this morning, the skipper of MACIF Santé Prévoyance knows what to expect and explains his choice. After hours of weather analysis at the chart table, he embarked on this option which could, if it worked, be the turning point in the race...

Charlie Dalin enjoyed yesterday a last day with little wind and sunshine, and a magical night, which did him good after this crazy descent to reach the roaring 40s. "Last night there was an incredible sky, I had never seen so many stars, it was really crazy. The starlight was so strong that it was reflected on the sea," he confided this morning, happy to have rested properly and to have prepared his boat for the difficult hours and days to come. "Yesterday was particularly pleasant, it wasn't cold, the sea was flat, I made the most of it. This allowed me to recheck the boat and prepare for the passage of depression. " he continued. Calm therefore, before the storm which should begin to shake the Le Havre skipper and his boat this evening.

Slower progress than expected

While his closest competitors opted for a northern route in order to sail above the height of the storm, Charlie, for two days, has continued his trajectory towards the East hoping to stay ahead of this depression. However, the choice was not easy, the skipper of MACIF Santé Prévoyance having hesitated in view of the evolution of the weather files. "When I left on this route, the files were a little more optimistic. There, the last ones are a little hot. Frankly, it's not going to be easy. The idea was to manage to stay ahead of the depression. I hesitated for a long time, I even hesitated until the last moment. The last files I used were not too strong and above all I managed to catch up only at the very end, when the depression began to lose intensity. The problem is that we have progressed less quickly towards the East than expected. The light wind area yesterday was more significant than expected, especially tonight. The later files are a bit harder." Charlie pointed out.

"Not alone in this mess!"

With Sébastien Simon less than 50 miles from his transom, the skipper of MACIF Santé Prévoyance necessarily feels less alone while the bulk of the squad is now more than 280 miles away: "I am not alone in this struggle, at least there's Seb (Sébastien Simon) with me, it's always good to have someone nearby."

A lead which should increase further if the two lone riders resist the blow which should affect them within 48 hours. But until then, Charlie does not hide his apprehension: "The day before yesterday, I spent 10 hours at the card table trying to find the best solution. I left to go to the North, I changed my mind. At the moment, the conditions are good, I have 18 knots of northerly wind, there is still sunshine and the sea is flat. The wind will gradually increase, the seas will build and the highlight of the show will be in 48 hours."

Now the die is cast, and as a good sailor, the skipper of MACIF Santé Prévoyance will try to navigate with caution.

Find out more...

• Race Tracker on the event website
• Race Tracker on the Initiatives Coeur website
• Our Vendée Globe section
• Sail-World YouTube Channel
• Event website