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.

Since Isabelle Joschke’s retirement last night at 10:23 pm, the 9th Vendée Globe has 26 competitors still in the race, 13 in full swing up the South Atlantic, 13 pining for Cape Horn in the South Pacific.

439 miles. This is the distance that now separates Yannick Bestaven, who has been in charge of the fleet for 21 days, and his closest opponent Thomas Ruyant.