With five days to go, the race scenario is still uncertain. Still, Charlie Dalin, Louis Burton and Boris Herrmann seem to have taken a slight advantage which could increase over the weekend.

The tension is palpable at the head of the race. Thomas Rettant recognized a “frustration” at not being able to fight 100% in the first group. For his part, Louis Burton could take advantage of his option further west to escape.

This morning, after weeks of valiantly battling serious damage, Sébastien Destremau threw in the towel. Merci’s skipper has been heading since this morning to the port of Dunedin, in the South Island of New Zealand, or to Christchurch, which is easier to access and where he will find the equipment to repair.

On this ascent to the equator, off the open sea of ​​Bahia in Brazil, the sailors have grain, or rather grains, to grind. The wind varies sharply in strength and direction, you have to be on the lookout, one hand on the sheets, one eye to observe the sky, another on the radar.