Paris (AFP)

Charlie Dalin still sees his lead shrinking over his two rivals Thomas Rouillard and Yannick Bestaven, less than 70 nautical miles, but crossed Cape Leeuwin in the lead on Sunday in the middle of the day.

The skipper of Apivia opens a road disturbed by the weather, unstable, which causes many changes of pace among the 27 competitors still in the running.

For his first Vendée Globe, he crossed Sunday in the middle of the day the second of the three legendary capes of the solo round the world non-stop, Cape Leeuwin, at the southern tip of Australia, after 34 days and 22 hours of race.

Behind him, Rouillard (LinkedOut) continues to move closer: he is 67 nautical miles (124 km) from the leader, and is now sailing side to side with Yannick Bestaven (Maître CoQ IV), 2 miles behind him.

The two pursuers should also pass the longitude of Cape Leeuwin on Sunday afternoon.

The outlook is more favorable than in previous days for Dalin, who will take advantage of his lead to benefit first from a stronger southwesterly wind.

- In the "mist" -

The leading trio stand out in front of two ships which are not equipped with foils, these side appendages which allow you to "fly" above the water.

Damien Seguin (Groupe Apicil) leads the chase, followed like his shadow by the dean of the Vendée Globe Jean Le Cam (Yes We Cam!).

"It's funny to be next to Damien but it's luck, I can't help it" smiles the 61-year-old sailor, who is taking part in his 5th Vendée Globe.

"Our two boats are together in the yard, they are 30 centimeters from each other, we can go from one bridge to the other without going down", he jokes.

The two skippers are gradually losing ground at the front of the race and are now 252 miles behind (467 km), in "super beautiful seas" according to Le Cam.

"We will soon be leaving this Indian Ocean, we will be able to set off fully, but it may be complicated because we arrive with an air bubble in South Australia."

Conditions were unstable throughout the race and allowed for a close-in, with the top 10 only spread over 380 miles (700 km).

"There is a mist!" Exclaimed Sunday morning Arnaud Boissières (La Mie Câline - Artisans Artipôle), 16th.

"It feels like Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, I can barely see the front of the boat."

Two days after having given up due to a computer failure, Fabrice Amedeo (Newrest - Art & Fenêtres) arrived in Cape Town in South Africa on Sunday morning, promising that his "history with the Vendée Globe is not over", and ensuring that 'he will return for the 2024 edition.

© 2020 AFP