VG - Patient and vigilance required as Cremer crosses Biscay to finish Wednesday

Two depressions in succession are passing into the Bay of Biscay. To the south of the first one, Clarisse Crémer (Banque Populaire) will be at the front of the first one as she heads for the finish. The second is for Jérémie Beyou (Charal) and Romain Attanasio (Pure - Best Western).

With 250 miles to go to the finish, Clarisse Crémer (Banque Populaire) still has strong conditions: 35 knots of wind and 6-metre waves. She is on good form but looking to take it safe and steady into the finish, just staying super vigilant on her passage from the north of Cape Finisterre across Biscay, especially bearing in mind what happened with Boris Herrmann coming on the same course. Recent finishes have proven the finish line is not easy in these conditions and so Cremer will remain patient and moderate her speed for an ETA between 0700hrs and 1700hrs Wednesday, the skipper herself saying today she is anticipating a finish in the afternoon.

At the Azores, Romain Attanasio (Pure - Best Western) and Jérémie Beyou (Charal) are having quite tough conditions the forecast showing 26 to 28 knots of W'ly wind and seas over 5 metres, in the second low pressure system, although he has reported sailing in 30+ with three reefs today.

The group of six led by Arnaud Boissières (La Mie Câline - Artisans Artipôle) does not have a de facto Azores High to manage: it has broken up under the influence of the low pressure system. And so the group are reaching with a TWA around 90 degrees having to go well to the west to find the westerlies and the next depression to get back into Les Sables d’Olonne.

Manu Cousin (Groupe Sétin) leads the way in the doldrums. Clément Giraud (Compagnie du Lit - Jiliti) and Miranda Merron (Campagne de France) are close behind. Finally, upwind, Alexia Barrier (TSE - 4myPlanet) and Ari Huusela (Stark) are bypassing the St. Helena High.

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Cover photo © D.R. / D.R. / Vendée Globe