Jean Le Cam took over the lead of the race overnight from Wednesday to Thursday.

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JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER / AFP

We can't repeat it enough, but nothing wants a good night's sleep.

Well, that's for us.

But after a grueling day on Wednesday in the Vendée Globe 2020 because of the weather that was not bad, but almost, the skippers still had the right to a little respite at sea. Problem, it will not last long.

We will summarize for you what has happened since.

The classification at 9 a.m.

The favorite Jérémie Beyou has other fish to fry than to worry about the classification, the Finistérien had to turn around towards Les Sables-d'Olonne because of a rudder problem, after having collided, on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, an ofni.

At 9am, it is therefore again Jean Le Cam who leads the dance with his most southerly position and a speed of almost 13 knots.

1. Jean Le Cam

2. Benjamin Dutreux (1.5 nautical miles from the first)

3. Sébastien Simon (23.2 nautical miles)

Louis Burton continues his punishment

While his little comrades took advantage of the lull to recharge the batteries, catch up on some sleep and repair the little messes on their racing car, Louis Burton, he spent part of the night serving his penalty.

Yep, the skipper of Bureau Vallée 2 is paying (dearly) for his little 2-second flight from Les Sables.

At the time of writing his lines, he is not doing so badly in 19th position.

The western quartet in full swing

If for the moment Jean Le Cam is at the top of the ranking, it could well change quickly on Thursday.

Why ?

Because the dynamics are more favorable 90 miles further west.

This is the trajectory chosen by the quartet formed by Alex Thompson (4th), Thomas Rettant (5th), Charlie Dalin (6th) and Kévin Escoffier (12th).

These four hit more wind than expected overnight, Dalin's boat even being flashed at 22.6 knots.

APIVIA is accelerating!



💨 Like the quartet from the west, Charlie touched more wind than expected overnight, thus operating at 22.6 knots on approach to the Azores (APIVIA, the fastest boat in the fleet at 5 o'clock).



⛵ The program of the day?

Go around a depression to the north.

pic.twitter.com/Jtd4TwKGaf

- Apivia Voile - Charlie Dalin (@ApiviaVoile) November 12, 2020

Oh what a beautiful tropical depression there is

The skippers were able to breathe last night, so much the better because what is likely to happen to them in the muzzle in the next few hours is not a pretty sight.

On the program, a pretty so-called "tropical" depression responding to the sweet name of Theta which formed at the beginning of the week in the middle of the Atlantic.

It moves from West to East in the South of the Azores and generates winds of over 40 knots.

The Vendée Globe fleet, heading south, will have no other choice but to bypass it to avoid major problems.

It remains to be seen by which route and with what strategy the skippers will decide to feint it.

Sport

Vendée Globe 2020: Big favorite, Jérémie Beyou must return to Les Sables d'Olonnes to repair his rudder

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