KnoX-Johnston’s Vendee Globe View - Wednesday 20 JanUAry

The tactical battle between Charlie Dalin’s Apivia and Louis Burton’s Bureau Vallée 2 will play out in the next day or so as they approach the east/west ridge of high pressure. The pressure is better to the west which is where Burton has gone, 200 miles further west in fact, which puts him at a greater distance from the next waypoint. This shows him more than 100 miles behind but this is misleading as he is further north and sailing faster. His day’s run is some 70 miles greater than Apivia. That high pressure could decide the race as it will move slightly east and then another system will appear around the Azores on Saturday before slipping NE towards Ireland.

The next nine boats, spread over 352 miles, are tending to follow Apivia. 7 miles separate Linked Out and Seaexplorer-Yacht Club De Monaco but the latter is slightly further west and north. Pip Hare and Miranda Merron have not changed their race positions since yesterday , but are showing respectable speed northwards.

With the absence of American Magic, the next America's Cup Round Robin has been reduced to two races, one on the 23rd and another the next day between Luna Rossa and Ineos Team UK.

Maxi Edmond de Rothschild continues her dash eastward with a day’s run of 819 miles. It is sitting on top of a depression and is 951 miles ahead of where Francis Joyon’s crew were 3 years ago.