Fears grow that last boat in Vendee Globe will miss cut-off

The National Times - Fears grow that last boat in Vendee Globe will miss cut-off

SPORTS 04.03.2025

Fears grow that last boat in Vendee Globe will miss cut-off / Photo: © AFP/File

As Fabrice Amedeo and his boat Nexans-Wewise crossed the finish line at Les Sables-d'Olonne in 32nd position on Tuesday, fears were growing that the last competitor still at sea would miss the Friday cut-off.

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Belgian skipper Denis Van Weynbergh, who admitted he was "emotionally at the end of his tether" at the prospect of missing the cut-off, is still 430 nautical miles from Les Sables d'Olonne, and is currently sailing at an average speed of just over three knots.

At his current pace Van Weynbergh's Imoca 60 Dieteren Group is due to finish over the weekend but the cut-off has been given as 0700 GMT on Friday.

That equates to a race time of 116 days and 18 hours which organisers said corresponds to the time taken by the last competitor in the previous edition, Finn Ari Huusela.

There is still a small chance that Van Weynbergh can cross the line on time but he will need a pocket of wind soon.

Amedeo arrived in 114 days - 50 days after fellow Frenchman Charlie Dalin sailed to victory in this 10th edition of the race.

T.Bennett--TNT

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The National Times - Fears grow that last boat in Vendee Globe will miss cut-off