Fabrice Amedeo sailing Newrest art et Fenetres has decided to retire. His onboard computers have failed and so he cannot read the weather and feels he can no longer continue. There are now 27 boats left out of the original 33 starters.
I have some sympathy for him. Of course he could sail on, that is what we had to do 50 years ago, but the game is different these days. This is a race and when everyone else has weather information and you don’t, you are not racing level. Back in 2007 I had the same problem, due to the “Experts” giving me the wrong Pin Number for my Iridium phone and my Fleet 77 satellite system jamming.. The only Information I could receive for some weeks was the positions of the other boats. If they were going faster than me, then I needed to head to where they were. It was totally frustrating. I overtook the others 3 times, but I did not have the luxury of knowing where I ought to be placing my boat to make real progress. I had to pull into Ushuaia to get my satellite systems sorted out. One of the most “useful" pieces of advice I received was to take the dome off my system to sort it out. In the Southern Ocean???!!! We sorted it in Ushaia but the “expert” put in a new weather system, without explaining how it worked, so I now had a system working but no useful information as I continued north up the Atlantic. It was so totally frustrating which is why I have sympathy with Fabrice.
Back on the course, Charlie Dalin in Apivia is bleeding more miles to those behind. His lead is now down to 73 miles from Linked Out, but others are also closing in as well. This was to be expected as Apivia ran into lighter winds before they did, slowing him down and those behind could sail faster whilst they closed up. But not everyone has benefitted. Bureau Valle has dropped to 224 miles behind in 6th position, overtaken by Jean Le Cam who is only 3 miles behind Group Apiicil sailed by Damien Seguin, in fourth. Amongst this leading group the positions have been changing daily as they charge eastwards averaging distances in the past 24 hours of over 430 miles. Pip Hare and Miranda Merron have both moved up one place owing to Newrest art et Fenetres retirement.
More bad news from the Roaring Forties as the giant trimaran Ultim Sodebo damaged her starboard rudder and has had to withdraw from its attempt on the Jules Verne Trophy. She is sailing towards Reunion island to make repairs. A shame, as she did look as if she had a chance of taking the trophy but not this time, not with a damaged rudder.