At sea (AFP)

The day after Kevin Escoffier's rescue, whose boat had broken in two, the Vendée Globe competitors continued on Wednesday, still led by Charlie Dalin, and still strongly marked by the terrible accident of their friend.

"We were all very, very touched, we had a bad night. I cried with joy yesterday morning (Tuesday) at the announcement of the good news, all my emotions mixed up. I was super relieved, but at the same time, it was so strange to experience that at sea. I dare not imagine the friends who went to the area. Emotionally, it must have been even more complicated for them ", confided Clarisse Crémer (Banque Populaire X), during of a session with the race PC.

The 30-year-old sailor was in 16th place on Wednesday at midday.

Affected like all the participants of this ninth edition, she pushed the reflection beyond this drama.

"The great challenge for the best sailor is the one who has stable morale. Me in the same day, I am able to cry with joy and despair! But things are better: I am better in my sneakers. a weird place, you're all alone, that's the exercise! It's also what you come looking for, "continued the young woman who is participating in her first solo round the world.

- 'We lift the foot' -

At the head of the race for ten days, Dalin (Apivia), seems master of the water and his emotions.

Marked, he still dropped in intensity, just like his direct pursuer, Thomas Rettant (LinkedOut), 244.2 nautical miles (452 ​​km) from Dalin.

"We think about it and it's true that unconsciously we take our foot off the ground a little. It alerts us to the fact that we are in seas that are complicated to manage, hard for the boats. We must be careful, preserve our equipment. The round-the-world trip is long. We sail differently in the South Seas, "said Rouillard.

The Northerner is now in the Indian Ocean - "with a little blue sky" but a sea "always disorderly" - after passing the Cape of Good Hope on Tuesday, nearly 3 pm after Dalin.

But it works with a latest generation boat, deprived of one of its two foils (large lateral appendage which allows the sailboat to sail very quickly above the water).

Loud had to cut the upper part last Friday due to a crack

"I have the impression of having a boat that is several tons more without my foil. But despite everything, in the conditions we currently encounter, that does not change that much. You have to learn to use the boat again. without this foil ", he relativized.

- 'We must run!'

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Using the boat without a foil is what Sébastien Simon (Arkéa Paprec) will have to do, whose monohull struck an ofni (unidentified floating object) on Wednesday morning, causing significant damage to the starboard foil.

The 30-year-old Sablais, who is entering the Vendée Globe, had passed the Cape of Good Hope five hours before the incident and was fourth in Wednesday's classification at 12:00 French time.

Simon was one of the four skippers diverted Monday evening to go to help Kevin Escoffier, who was wrecked after his boat had doubled over.

The best performance of the last twenty-four hours has been signed by Armel Tripon (L'Occitane en Provence), who, at the helm of a boat + steering wheel +, has covered 484 miles at more than 20 knots average (37 km / h).

"I have noise-canceling headphones because they are heavy: I'm right in front of the forehead and you have to run so as not to get 'eaten'! And this is the first time that I find myself running in front of a forehead and keep it at bay, even though I can feel its 'breath', "Tripon said.

© 2020 AFP