Paris (AFP)

As the Doldrums approach, as the Brazilian coast recedes, Louis Burton (Bureau Vallée 2) took control of the Vendée Globe on Saturday evening, even though it is only 3.1 nautical miles ahead. , less than 5 km, on the former leader Charlie Dalin (Apivia).

Still in the lead at midday, Dalin gave up 1st place to Burton in the 6:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. GMT) standings, but the Doldrums, this inter-tropical convergence zone with very uncertain wind conditions, can hold many surprises.

Especially since behind the duo, the German Boris Herrmann reduced the gap to 43.6 nm (70 km).

In case of victory, Herrmann would be the first foreigner to win in this nonstop and unassisted round-the-world race, which has always been won by a Frenchman since the 1st edition in 1990 returned to Titouan Lamazou.

Thomas Rettant (LinkedOut), 4th, lost a little ground at 93.1 nm (150 km) as did Damien Seguin (Groupe Apicil), 5th, at 120.4 nm.

Less than 3,400 miles from the finish in Les Sables d'Olonne, there is therefore total uncertainty as to the identity of the future winner.

"There is not too much grain (...) I tried to force the course a little to realign myself behind the leaders while waiting for them to slow down so that I come back on it", declared at the end of the morning Yannick Bestaven (FRA / Maître Coq IV), the last of the leading peloton, in sixth position.

"At the moment, we are accelerating as we go with a trade wind which gives way (turns to the South-East, editor's note), forcing and stabilizing: it should be like that until the entrance to the Doldrums" , continues the adopted Rochelais, taken over by his pursuers at the beginning of the week after having been in the lead for almost a month.

- "A day of speed" -

"It's a day of speed. We have to go fast with the sails we have and now that we all have roughly the same wind, it's time to adjust to catch up", continues the sailor. , again pumped up after losing all its lead in the permanent front of Cabo Frio.

The same spirit of optimism is blowing aboard Bureau Vallée 2, Louis Burton's sailboat.

"The trade winds are here: finally a night with a more stable wind and where things are going well, without grain, with less difficulty," said Burton.

But looms the Doldrums, often stormy area, in which the leading yachts should enter tonight by approaching it from its western flank.

"I spend a lot of time on the weather forecast to know where to get through the Doldrums at best. Given the small gaps between the boats, it can allow you to come out in front or behind depending on how things are going. ! ", Burton analyzes.

The race was also marked by another retirement, the eighth since the start on November 8: that of Sébastien Destremau (Thank you).

The one who occupied the last place and is heading for New Zealand has suffered a lot of damage since the start.

He had finished the previous edition in last place, more than 50 days behind the winner Armel Le Cléac'h.

Finland's Ari Huusela (Stark), who sits near Point Nemo, the furthest point on all earth, is the new red lantern, while he is one of the last three in the fleet along with Clément Giraud and Alexia Barrier, not yet to have crossed Cape Horn in southern America.

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