Every Saturday during the Vendée Globe, Charlie Dalin keeps a logbook for Europe 1. On his Apivia monohull, the 36-year-old skipper talks about his impressions, his strategy and the future events that await him in this legendary single-handed race. , nonstop and unassisted.

In this ninth week of the Vendée Globe, Charlie Dalin is still in second position behind Yannick Bestaven.

The 36-year-old skipper, who is taking part in his first edition on his Apivia monohull, begins the ascent of the South Atlantic after having passed Cape Horn.

The navigator confides in his weekly logbook on Europe 1, recorded on Friday.

Less in survival, more in regatta

It's been two months since I left Les Sables d'Olonne and I am going up the South Atlantic at the moment.

I was told that the climb up the Atlantic was long, but that's not what I remember.

Strategically, it's a lot of work.

I have to spend between 5 and 7 hours a day in front of my computer working on the trajectory.

Once Cape Horn has passed, the field of possibilities reopens.

We are less in survival and more in regatta.

© Charlie Dalin

We did not break records in the first sections of the Vendée Globe… and we are not going to break records in the ascent of the South Atlantic either.

Once past Cape Horn, there was a migratory high pressure bubble that shifted from west to east (I had already seen it a little before Cape Horn, while studying the weather).

It was complicated to understand: I did not see a solution to avoid it.

No matter how much I turned the road simulations in all directions, I always ended up landing in that damn high pressure bubble.

It did not fail.

Even with his lead, Yannick (

Bestaven, current leader

) was a little slowed down by this bubble.

There was no way I could pass.

Damien Seguin, who was a little behind

[currently fourth, Editor's note]

, was slowed down, too.

The race is still long

In the small depression that we went to recover with Thomas [

Rouillard, currently third

], I had 38 knots, but it is not the same as the southerly wind, not the same sea. 'frankly soften day by day, it is more than 20 degrees in the boat.

The mild conditions also help to lighten things up.

It gives energy, a little warmth.

I now also know that by the North Atlantic, I will not have a strong gale.

In the south, when you feel a gust of wind you know the next one is not far away.

There, we do not have this problem.

There is an expression on the boat that says that until you cross the finish line anything can happen.

I think this expression also applies to the Vendée-Globe… maybe particularly to the Vendée Globe.

There have been a lot of twists and turns since the start.

The race is still long, there are more than 5,000 miles to Les Sables d'Olonne.

A lot can still happen in this Vendée Globe.

© Charlie Dalin

The boats have been at sea for two months already.

Sailors are worn out.

We are starting to get a little tired.

Suddenly, I hang on, I fight.

I adjust the boat, I put everything in working order to go as quickly as possible, continuing to preserve the boat to go and find Yannick.

There is still a long way to go to Les Sables and there will still be opportunities, I'm sure.

If there is an opportunity, believe in it.

And when she comes to me, I'll see her and grab her.