Paris (AFP)

The Vendée Globe fleet is still led by Yannick Bestaven as they approach Cape Horn on Wednesday and the leader hopes to take advantage of the looming low pressure to widen the gap.

The skipper of Maître Coq IV saw his lead melt away over his first pursuer Charlie Dalin (Apivia), at 117.4 nautical miles (217 kilometers) on Wednesday noon, who has recovered 50 miles in the last 18 hours.

Leading the race since December 16, the Rochelais should cross the Drake Strait, which separates the southern end of South America and Antarctica, between Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands on Saturday.

Four years ago, during the previous edition, Armel Le Cléac'h, future winner, had passed the most legendary capes after 47 days at sea, a new benchmark time for the race, with more than 800 miles in advance. on the second and 1,600 miles on the third.

This time, if Yannick Bestaven should imitate him a week later compared to the start, after 55 days, he is currently being chased by a pack of ten competitors spread over less than 500 miles!

And if Armel Le Cléac'h had then taken advantage of relatively peaceful conditions, carried by a moderate wind from the south-west, the gusts blowing from the north-west will not be a part of pleasure, while offering an opportunity to again build a significant gap for those who hook up the right wagon.

- "In the fight" -

The depression expected from Friday could indeed help split the top eleven into two groups.

Yannick Bestaven is currently pursuing a rather southerly route about fifty miles from the Antarctic Exclusion Zone.

The 48-year-old skipper has stepped up his gybes in order to maintain his pace.

This is also the case for Damien Seguin (Groupe Apicil) who should cross Cape Horn "Sunday morning".

Briefly passed third, he was less than a mile behind Thomas Rettant (LinkedOut) at the last score, back on the podium.

"The last 36 hours have been quite hard to navigate with very rough seas and a lot of wind and I managed to get out of the game: I sailed cleanly, I did not hesitate to chain the gybes by thirty knots of wind, ”said the two-time Paralympic Games gold medalist in sailing, 161 miles from the lead.

"For the moment, it seems complicated with the depression coming from the north, but there are about 1,500 miles before this promontory with varied conditions to go there", underlines Damien Séguin, adding however that he would have preferred to pass his first course. Horn "other than in the fight".

In fifth position, Jean Le Cam (Yes We Cam!) Is 219 miles behind Yannick Bestaven and has not said his last word.

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