Paris (AFP)

Yannick Bestaven widened the gap on his direct pursuers Charlie Dalin and Thomas Rettant on Sunday at the top of the Vendée Globe, thanks to favorable conditions, before embarking on the long crossing of the Pacific Ocean.

The solo round-the-world non-stop leader is now 129.6 miles (240 km) ahead of runner-up Charlie Dalin (Apivia) and 171.5 miles (318 km) ahead of Thomas Rettant (LinkedOut) , in third position.

The French skipper will be the first Sunday to leave behind the longitude of Chatham Island, New Zealand's last islet, before tackling the Pacific Ocean with the third and final course of the race in sight, Cape Town. Horn.

Bestaven (Maître Coq IV) enjoys more favorable meteorological conditions than those in which Charlie Dalin sails, and this is not without consequence on his average speed: he left New Zealand longitudes at 14 knots on average during the last 24 hours, against 11.4 knots for her pursuer.

"I find myself in a system a little out of step with Yannick," lamented Dalin on Sunday morning, annoyed by a sea that was too calm for his liking, which nevertheless enabled him to recover after complicated days.

The former leader of the race had to stop his advance at the beginning of the week to make a makeshift wedge to repair his foil, a side appendage that allows you to rise above the water to gain speed, damaged by damage.

Dalin runs along the Antarctic Exclusion Zone (ZEA) which limits its trajectory to the south, while a high pressure system blocks the route further north.

"This bubble moving towards the East, we will remain a little blocked in this small corridor which does not give an exit", he explains.

"When the bubble gets closer to us, the hallway will get narrower, less windy."

- Advantage to pursuers -

Conditions that could benefit the second group, which stretches from fourth place for German Boris Herrmann (Seaexplorer-Yacht Club de Monaco) at 388 miles (718 km) to eighth position for compatriot Isabelle Joschke ( MACSF), 592.2 miles (1096 km).

Louis Burton (Bureau Vallée 2) tries as best he can to advance towards Macquarie Island where he will be in the shelter to repair his ship, damaged since the middle of the week.

It is now relegated to tenth place 675.4 miles (1,251 km) from Bestaven and will continue to lose ground, time to make the necessary repairs.

One of the big favorites at the start of Les Sables d'Olonnes at the beginning of November, Jérémie Beyou (Charal), continues to catch up after having to turn around due to damage and start nine days after his competitors.

"My long-term goal is to move forward properly while keeping a boat in good condition to Cape Horn. I want her to be at 100% of her potential for the upward Atlantic so that she can fully enjoy every option and not to regret, "predicted the 21st in the standings on Sunday morning.

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