Yannick Bestaven is the virtual leader of this Vendée Globe 2020. -

Sebastien SALOM-GOMIS / AFP

After more than a month of racing around the world, the 27 skippers still in the running (out of 33 at the start) are engaged in an intense battle, especially at the outposts where the fight rages between the leader Charlie Dalin and his two close pursuers. , Thomas Rettant and Yannick Bestaven.

We take stock.

The classification at 9 a.m.

1. Charlie Dalin (Apivia) 13,444 miles from the finish

2. Thomas Rettant (LinkedOut) 62 miles behind the leader

3. Yannick Bestaven (Maître Coq IV) 67 miles behind the leader

4. Jean Le Cam (Yes we Cam!) 232 miles from the first

5. Damien Seguin (Groupe Apicil) 234 miles behind the leader

If he maintains his progression, Charlie Dalin (@ApiviaVoile) should pass the 115 08 180 East longitude which extends the southwestern tip of Australia in the early afternoon on Sunday.

@ThomasRouillard and @YannickBestaven a few hours later.

▶ ️ https://t.co/MkZcokGNfB pic.twitter.com/bQSwoi9hdi

- Vendée Globe (@VendeeGlobe) December 13, 2020

It beats severe behind Dalin

While the leader of this Vendée Globe has had to deal with a total lack of wind in recent hours, forcing him to advance at an aquatic snail's pace under Prosac, his pursuers have not had this problem.

So that, mathematically, it comes back very, very quickly behind.

Thomas Rouillard has just scratched 11 nautical miles off Dalin, but it is perhaps on Yannick Bestaven's side that is the real danger.

On the heels of Rettant, the native of Saint Nazaire could even be a virtual leader at the time of writing his lines since he will benefit from a bonus after being diverted to go and lend a hand to Kévin Escoffier when the one -Here was crashing his boat.

The hotly contested fourth place

But it is not only in the head that it is beating.

Behind the leading trio seems to emerge a four-way fight between Jean Le Cam (4th), Damien Seguin (5th), Benjamin Dutreux (6th) and Louis Burton (7th).

At the last check-in, the four skippers were standing within 30 nautical miles.

Better still, Le Cam and Seguin are almost ass to ass on the approach to Cape Leeuwin (Australia), since only two poor miles separate the two sailors.

Take out the popcorn, the next few hours are going to be exciting to watch.

Without making any noise, Beyou grapples

We would have almost forgotten after his forced U-turn at the start of VG, but Jérémie Beyou is kindly giving himself a nice comeback around the world.

Last I heard, it was sliding at over 27 knots in the waters of the Indian Ocean.

The skipper of "Hmmmm Charal" is no longer last in the race after dropping off Ari Huusela and Sébastien Destremau.

His next goal?

Go tickle Clément Giraud, who is ahead of him by 103 knots.

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