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

A final sprint between five completely new skippers and a first-comer who might not be the winner: the outcome of the Vendée Globe is played out on Wednesday evening in breathtaking suspense after 80 days at sea marked by a heroic rescue.

There are five sailors, including four French, to draw on their ultimate resources to cross the finish line off Sables-d'Olonne in the best possible position.

Charlie Dalin (Apivia), the German Boris Herrmann (Seaexplorer-Yacht Club de Monaco), Louis Burton (Bureau Vallée 2), Thomas Rettant (LinkedOut) and Yannick Bestaven (Maître Coq IV) are fighting a merciless battle.

All are expected in a pocket square between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, to arrive behind closed doors due to the health crisis linked to Covid-19.

"This Vendée is so special in so many ways!", Told AFP Michel Desjoyeaux, the only double winner of the Vendée Globe (2000/2001 and 2008/2009).

"There have been one-on-one in the history of the Vendée Globe. There has already been close combat, but not with five boats like this," he continues.

The game should be almost nothing.

The sailors are exhausted, their boats are seriously injured, and time compensation comes into play for two skippers, Bestaven (10:15 a.m.) and Herrmann (6 a.m.), for having diverted to help in the search for a wrecked competitor, Kevin Escoffier, whose boat broke in two on November 30.

- "At the intensity" -

"They have nothing to lose and everything to gain," notes Desjoyeaux, specifying that the sailors all have hourly compensation in mind.

"You have to think about it! You are in the same situation as a last stage of a race in time like the Solitaire du Figaro. You know you have a guy who has half an hour of advance and must eat that half hour, "he explains.

"It is played with intensity, the only thing that will make the difference is the way in which the sailors will keep up with the pace," he warns.

With his three Vendée Globe, Yann Eliès goes further.

"There is a real fight to arrive in real time first. On some routes we can still hope that Burton and Dalin remain first at the end of the count, I believe in it moderately," Eliès told AFP.

"It's the rules of the game, it's a special race because, in addition meteorologically speaking, it never smiled on the first, it was not a race for the first, that's life", remark he also.

Dalin, who is taking part in his very first Vendée Globe, was at the head of the fleet for more than 60% of the race.

The 36-year-old Norman sailor lost ground in mid-December after serious damage but regained control after passing Cape Horn.

- Hourly compensation -

Burton, he had many setbacks;

he even anchored for almost 48 hours to climb the mast.

The skipper of Saint-Malo made an incredible climb up the Atlantic to find himself at the forefront.

Herrmann also returned to the leading group, silently.

His boat seems to be in good condition and the German has 6 hours in his bag which will be deducted from his total time after crossing the line.

Which makes him a dangerous opponent.

With his 10 hours and 15 minutes of time compensation, the Rochelais Bestaven is a serious contender for the final victory, especially since he has been pumped up to speed for a few days and is spinning as fast as possible.

We will have to wait until he crosses the line to know the winner of the Vendée Globe.

Behind him, Damien Seguin (Groupe Apicil), the first disabled sailor to do the Vendée Globe, should cross the line in sixth position.

But he could well lose this place in favor of Jean Le Cam (Yes We Cam!).

The sixty-year-old is the one who managed to save Escoffier in dire sea conditions and for that, he benefited from 16 hours and 15 minutes of compensation.

He is sailing in eighth position.

Thirty-three sailors took the start on November 8, twenty-five are still in the race.

© 2021 AFP