LOGBOOK - Charlie Dalin's Vendée Globe: "I haven't been idle since the start"

TESTIMONY

This first week of the Vendée Globe will definitely be remembered by Charlie Dalin: the 36-year-old skipper, who is competing in his first edition on his Apivia monohull, managed to take the lead off Portugal on Wednesday evening, four days after the start of a race marked by the poor performances of several favorites.

Satisfied with having negotiated the first rounds well, the sailor reads himself in his weekly logbook on Europe 1, recorded on Friday.

"There's always stuff going on at night, in terms of wind strength. We had a first front the first night. We had a strong second front the third night. Last night, we entered the domain of Tropical Depression Theta I have been busy from the start!

"I've been told so often that the road is long…"

There haven't been a lot of breaks, whether it's strategic, maneuvering or even conditions that make it not always easy to rest, but I still feel like I'm in. form.

I try to find the right cursor placement in terms of attack, boat performance and aggressiveness in strategic choices.

I am trying to find my marks.

These are just my first five days of my Vendée Globe experience.

Compared to my colleagues (Alex) Thomson and the others, I do not have this lived, this experience.

In any case, I try to keep a boat at 100% of its potential.

Afterwards, I will know how to put my foot on the accelerator, but I have been told so often that the road is long ...

Theta depression?

Outside, it's gray, there is a swell and wind.

It feels like the south, except that it's 22 degrees and there are Sargassum.

I haven't seen any flying fish yet, but in my cabin I don't see them often.

It's a little training, let's say.

I see it as cursor positioning training, maneuvering in heavy weather.

It's interesting at this level, it's the last obstacle before the trade winds.

I decided to take a route a little less committed, I accept my choice.

I think that makes me lose a little ground on the others, but I am too young in the history of the Vendée Globe to immediately go all-in.

"Procrastinate? I assume my choice"

So, I preferred to delay and ensure.

Will I regret it later?

We'll see.

In any case, it is my choice and I assume it.

I'm not out yet, but I'm doing everything to ensure that my boat stays at 100% of its potential as long as possible, even if it means losing a little ground on my comrades.

I feel like I managed to make a good estimate with my routings

The conditions will calm down from tonight (from Friday to Saturday,

).

I will be able to send some canvas and start sailing a little more 'normal'.

From this evening, the winds will calm down quickly, it will become more manageable and more pleasant.

I'm happy because I'm often at the forefront.

I am very happy with my shot from the second front where I was perfectly well placed, neither too far north for wind force issues, nor too south for ridge issues which would fall behind.

It was difficult to gauge the speed that we were going to be able to hold after the passage of the front in light wind and a lot of sea. I have the impression of having managed to make a good estimate with my routings and with my senses. sailor (the famous one!) to find the right compromise between performance and safety.

"In Sao Miguel, edge-to-edge with Thomas Rettant"

There are some moves I could have done better, but that doesn't mean that I still feel like I'm in the right package, even though I might downgrade a bit.

It is in line with my expectations.

I'm starting to get into my rhythm.

Not quite yet, but it's getting closer.

Otherwise, the passage next to Sao Miguel at sunset was really nice, edge-to-edge with Thomas (Loud).

The Azores are an area that I really like.

I really like going there, but obviously not in the Vendée Globe, let's be clear!

It's a non-stop, unassisted race.

I can be there, far, nearby, but not on land during the Vendée Globe, especially not.

It was a beautiful moment.

The conditions were fairly calm, the boat was moving well.

There's one thing I haven't talked about: it's true that I'm not used to seeing rankings so far apart, it's a little different. I'm used to instantaneity and AIS navigation (a computer navigation aid system,

), where you can instantly track the performance of all your opponents. There, with four-hour gaps between each ranking and the big blackout of the night, it forces you to go a little further, to relax yourself a little more. At first it bothered me a lot and then I started to get used to it. 

 We have a closed boat, but I manage to fill the cockpit, I let you imagine the conditions… "