The gap widened a bit this Friday morning between the Maxi Banque Populaire Martinique. Not enough to revolutionize naval combat either. From 33.9 miles on Thursday, the Bankers’ lead increased to 52.6 miles this Friday at 10 a.m., while the two trimarans, still engaged in an intense fight in the ascent along the Brazilian coast, have crossed the mark of 2000 miles remaining to go to Fort-de-France. On the other hand, behind, the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild of Caudrelier-Israel has dropped ballast going from 144 to 220 miles, just like the Sodebo 3 of Coville-Rouxel pushed back to 591 miles and the Actual 3 of Marchand-Chabagny now pointed at 713 miles of the leaders launched into a series of physically and nervously exhausting jibes at an average of more than 30 knots. And this will last until Sunday…
As for the Imoca monohulls, the Charal of Beyou-Cammas continues in the lead on its descent towards the island of Madeira, but this Friday morning it has a different runner-up from the day before, and somewhat of a surprise, with Justine Mettraux’s Teamwork.net and Julien Villion recorded at 23.8 miles at 10 a.m., just ahead of Richomme-Eliès’ Paprec Arkéa at 32 miles and Goodchild-Koch’s For Planet at 40.8 miles. At the back of the fleet and stopping in Vigo to repair their mainsail, Yannick Bestaven, the winner of the last Vendée Globe, and Julien Pulvé discovered the breakage of one of the structural bulkheads of their Master CoQ and were forced to abandonment.