Les Sables-d'Olonne (France) (AFP)

On the eve of the finish of the Vendée Globe, it is impossible to know who will be the winner among the group of five boats leading the race towards Les Sables-d'Olonne in a sprint of unprecedented suspense, accentuated by the compensations enjoyed by those who benefit. rerouted to save a competitor.

"I've been at sea for so long that I forgot that life on land really existed, my standard is to be on Apivia, it is to be on my boat and I'm not arriving at all , but then not at all to tell me that the finish is imminent. I am really extremely focused on the coming hours, on all the obstacles I still have to overcome ", explained Tuesday Charlie Dalin who is in the lead after 79 days old and is expected to arrive early Wednesday evening.

Behind him, Louis Burton (Bureau Vallée 2) and Boris Herrmann (SeaExplorer - Yacht Club de Monaco) should arrive on Wednesday evening, while Thomas Rettant (LinkedOut) is expected at the start of the night, followed by Yannick Bestaven in the middle of night / early morning.

- 'Unable to give the podium' -

The first to cross the finish line might not be the winner of this non-stop solo round-the-world tour, as two sailors in the leading group are being compensated for hours for helping with the search for Kevin's sinking. Escoffier: this is the German Boris Herrmann, currently in second position 82.1 nautical miles (152 km) behind Charlie Dalin and who has a compensation of 6 hours, and Yannick Bestaven (295.1 miles / 546, 5 km behind the leader) with a compensation of 10 hours and 15 minutes.

To find such suspense, we must go back to the 2012-2013 edition when Armel Le Cléac'h arrived only three hours and 17 minutes after the winner François Gabart, but during this edition, the following boats had joined the port two days, eight hours and nine days after the victory.

"It's totally new, how can you imagine being on such a tight field of competitors after a round the world nonstop and without assistance. It's incredible, it's probably even in the annals of ocean racing. C This is the first time we've seen that. Good, it proves that sport is in its place. There is competition and that's what we have to remember, we are unable to give the podium. So This means that the level is excellent ", underlined the race director Jacques Caraës indicating that the prize list can" be played within a few minutes ".

- Arrival 'a little sad' -

Due to the compensations, the skipper Jean Le Cam could climb to the third step of the podium even if he is currently eighth because he obtained sixteen hours and fifteen minutes for the rescue of Kévin Escoffier which was a highlight of this Vendée Globe.

"Here I am eighth, my first objective is to cross the finish line, that's for sure, because we don't know everything", insisted Jean Le Cam explaining that "for the moment everything is fine, we walk quite fast so every mile is a mile that brings us closer to the finish ".

Of the 33 boats at the start, eight have retired and 25 are still in the race with the last competitors who have just passed Cape Horn.

As at the start, spectators will not be allowed to admire their heroes on the Sables-d'Olonne channel due to the health crisis.

"It will be frustrating (...) it will be a probably a little sad arrival. The sharing of this audience that we will not really be able to do 100%, it's a real heartbreak", regretted Jacques Caraës.

© 2021 AFP