Arkéa Ultim Challenge: “We have a lot of stoned faces all the same!” laughs Coville as he passes Cape Horn

“It’s a super strong moment. We are getting closer. We still have a lot of stoned faces,” facing the camera while filming himself just before passing Cape Horn, Thomas Coville smiled when he saw his old sea dog’s face marked by effort. The sailor from Sodebo, a giant 32-meter trimaran, crossed the legendary tip of the American continent during the night from Sunday to Monday (at 1:40 a.m.) after 35 days, 12 hours and 10 minutes of racing and 230 miles behind Armel Le Cléac'h (Popular Bank).

“There were too many clouds for me to see the snow-capped mountains. But it's a pretty fantastic place, it marks something very strong. It’s a tipping point,” admitted the skipper who once again recounted an old anecdote linking him to this place with one of the lighthouse keepers who was not used to seeing sailors embarked on a tour of the world. “The guard asks me where I come from. I tell him “Brest” spelling it out. The next question, he asks me again where I'm going. I answer “Brest”. There's a little silence and the guy says to me: "I have a form to fill out so we're trying to be serious..." Where are you from?" I say "Brest." "And where are you come on?" I say ''Brest''. "But between the two, where did you stop and in which port?" Well no, I didn't stop. The poor boy...", said, amused, the 55-year-old Breton.

Third in the round-the-world race, Coville is now chasing Le Cléac'h, who was ahead of him by 200 miles on Monday at midday. Charles Caudrelier (Edmond de Rothschild) remains untouchable for the moment, 1,861 miles ahead of his first pursuer, along the coast of South America, held back by capricious winds.

Much further away, Anthony Marchand (Actual) is at 5986 miles, in fourth position. Last in the ranking, Eric Péron (Adagio) is located between Tasmania and New Zealand, 7068 miles from the leader.