Arkéa Ultim Challenge: Caudrelier approaching Cape Horn after crossing “a horrible sea”

Almost a month after casting off from the port of Brest (January 7), Charles Caudrelier is on the verge of finishing the formidable South Seas tunnel. The skipper of Edmond de Rothschild must pass Cape Horn this Monday to begin the long journey up the Atlantic.

But the native Parisian will remember this complicated crossing in a very unpleasant sea, as is often the case when approaching the tip of the American continent. Forced to stop his progress at the end of last week due to a violent depression, the leader resumed his march forward but the last few nights have not been easy.

“Last jibe before Cape Horn, it felt good because the seas were horrible to starboard. There was 5, 6 meters of sea and with the wind changing, I was facing,” says Caudrelier in a video sent Tuesday morning by his team. “It felt good because it was still very violent at times. With each wave, you hear noise and you wonder what will break. (…) There, I saw sliding again. This won’t be a stolen Cape Horn!” , added the sailor who will still have 7,000 miles strewn with pitfalls before declaring victory, perhaps, in Brest.

At midday on Tuesday, Caudrelier and his 32 meter trimaran launched at around 26 knots, had a 2801.8 mile lead over Armel Le Cléac'h (Banque Populaire) launched like a bullet at over 35 knots, he even pressed by Sodebo of Thomas Coville, slightly slower (3rd at 3076.1 miles).

Further on, Anthony Marchand (Acutal Ultim, 4th at 5932.8 miles) showed a nice smile in another video recorded last night. We understand: the skipper has passed Cape Leeuwin. "That's a good thing done. We will continue to try to go quickly under Australia, under New Zealand and manage this Pacific well... Come on, there's work", rejoiced the navigator holding a small sign in his hand to celebrate the event. Eric Péron (Adagio, 5th at 7520 miles) should be the next to reach the western tip of Australia in a few days.