Paris (AFP)

Charlie Dalin's lead, at the head of the Vendée Globe for almost three weeks, is "melting like snow in the sun" and some are wondering if the skipper, admittedly entangled in a windless zone, is not also suffering from problems techniques which he does not say a word about.

Dalin (Apivia) took the reins of the solo round the world race on November 23.

Since then, she hasn't let go and has been sailing brilliantly despite the strong winds.

During the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, it suffered the biggest storm of this Vendée Globe.

Proven, he continued his journey fully.

But since last night, its speed has dropped sharply, from 16 knots (30 km / h) on Thursday evening to 6 knots (11 km / h) on Friday noon.

So the world of offshore racing is wondering, from social networks to the speakers of the organizers' daily program: wouldn't the skipper be handicapped by a technical problem that arose as a result of this storm?

"The conditions are good but things are not going fast," Dalin said in a video sent Friday morning.

"There is an area of ​​light wind to cross, my lead is melting like snow in the sun. Others are at 20 knots, due east, I am losing miles at high speed, I am fighting for myself. get out of this area as quickly as possible ", continued the Norman sailor.

- 40 years in the roaring 40th -

Behind him, his rivals waste no time, pushed by the wind.

His runner-up Thomas Rouillard (LinkedOut) narrowed the gap to a few hundred nautical miles (106 nm or 196 km).

In third position, Yannick Bestaven (Maître Coq IV) went from 250 nm (464 km) on Thursday evening to 128 nm (238 km) on Friday noon.

Rouillard, Dalin's direct pursuer for many days, hangs on despite a foil that he had to amputate from its upper part after a damage (the foil is one of the two side appendages that allows the boat to rise above the water to spin at full speed).

"I am sailing on my truncated foil and these are conditions where I miss him sorely! But hey, it is like that and it will last until the end of the lap. I am not complaining but I lose about 20% of the potential of the boat on this starboard tack, ”explained Rettant.

Dalin and Rayant but also Bestaven take the fleet to Cape Leeuwin (southern tip of Australia), second of the three legendary capes around the world, approaching the Antarctic Exclusion Zone (ZEA).

The longitude of Cape Leewin is expected to be crossed on Sunday.

It remains to be seen who will be the first.

Clément Giraud (Compagnie du lit-Jiliti), 24th in the standings, has not yet passed the first course, the Cape of Good Hope (southern tip of Africa) but it is only a matter of hours.

He will therefore enter the 40th Roarants, on his 40th birthday.

"I opened my little gifts, there is another one coming in two or three hours: to pass the Cape of Good Hope. Forty years in the 40th Roaring, it's nickel! I blew out my candles and plus I have sun! We're not going to complain, celebrating its 40th anniversary at the Cape of Good Hope, it looks good, "said Giraud, who is taking part in the Vendée Globe for the first time.

© 2020 AFP