Paris (AFP)

After more than six weeks of racing, skipper Yannick Bestaven took the lead in the Vendée Globe on Wednesday as he sails at the gates of the Pacific Ocean which will be a discovery for him.

And as good news never comes alone, Bestaven (Maître Coq IV) received an hourly compensation of ten hours and fifteen minutes on Wednesday for helping to rescue a competitor, Kevin Escoffier (two other sailors, Jean Le Cam and Boris Hermann also had compensations).

A bonus that will only be effective when it has crossed the finish line in Les Sables d'Olonne (Vendée).

But it is clear that the 47-year-old sailor does not need this just turn of events to take the lead in the solo, non-stop round-the-world race.

Early Wednesday morning, very off Australia, he passed Thomas Rettant (LinkedOut) halfway through the Vendée Globe to take the lead, he who is entered for the second time in the Vendée Globe but whose first participation had come to an end in 2008 following the dismasting of his boat, less than two days after departure.

Rouillard is certainly not far, it follows 14 nautical miles (26 km) and the duo are preparing to leave the Indian Ocean - which has not spared them - just like Charlie Dalin, leader for three weeks and fell back to third place, 145 nm (268 km) from Bestaven, after major damage.

Dalin is now back in the race after having repaired for several hours a part linked to the port foil which had left, letting the water in.

The foil is a lateral appendage that allows the sailboat to fly (these boats are called 'foilers').

Dalin's monohull, like that of Rettant, is of the latest generation (2019) while the Bestaven foiler is older (2015).

- The Cam enhanced by 16 hours -

"Today (Wednesday) I still have to recover from all my efforts but it's going better, I feel re-motivated, I'm happy to be racing again, certainly with a foil that I can no longer use, but (. ..) with a boat in seaworthy condition, "Dalin whispered to AFP, who hopes" that this is the end of the negative spiral "in which he was," between the storm, the weak winds, the pursuers who come back "behind him.

Behind this trio who escaped from the rest of the fleet, is positioned in fourth place, Jean Le Cam (Yes We Cam!), 450.2 miles from the leader (833 km).

The 61-year-old navigator also received sixteen hours and 15 minutes compensation for saving Escoffier.

Monday, November 30, Kevin Escoffier (PRB) saw his boat break in two while sailing in the 40th Roaring.

He took refuge on his liferaft and the race director asked the nearest competitor to divert to help the sailor in distress.

Jean Le Cam went to the area but struggled to locate Escoffier.

Three other skippers were therefore diverted to help with the search: Bestaven, the German Boris Hermann (Seaexplorer-Yacht Club de Monaco), seventh Wednesday and who benefits from six hours of compensation, and Sébastien Simon (Arkéa Paprec) who has since retired due to damage.

The Cam was finally able to rescue Escoffier, who remained on board with him until a French Navy frigate then came to retrieve him off the Kerguelen Islands.

© 2020 AFP