The IMOCA D’Ieteren Group making it’s way towards the Pacific Ocean
On the 45th day of racing, Denis Van Weynbergh passed the second legendary cape of the Vendée Globe: Leeuwin. Amidst technical woes and the thrill of being at sea, the Belgian sailor is fully immersed in his round the world adventure.
In the Southern Ocean, dodging the big depressions becomes a necessity at times. Indeed, this giant labyrinth forces the skippers to favour good seamanship and strike a balance between safety and speed.
The skipper’s entry into the Indian Ocean kicked off with a N’ly route in order to stay clear of a violent front, which was set to sweep through the tail end of the fleet.
Denis explains: “I opted to distance myself from the big depression as the breeze was changing all the time. I was constantly having to modify the sails I was carrying. As such, I switched from 3 reefs in the J3 to full main with the gennaker. That involves a lot of work each time and it’s really exhausting.”
The Indian Ocean has lived up to its reputation: the wind has picked up, the sky has become darker and the waves have increased. “The conditions have been pretty special. We’ve gone from 20 to 35 knots of breeze in half an hour. You have to adapt by using a system of hybrid trimming,” admitted Denis.
These harsh conditions are putting both bodies and machines to the test of course, resulting in a string of minor glitches which require the toolbox to be brought out.
“It was the mast wand which was the first thing to fail! Some 28 metres up, this is an essential bit of kit on the masthead to work out your course using the wind information. After heading north to benefit from the calm conditions of an anticyclone, the sailor had to pull on his climbing harness and investigate: “I made three attempts at making the climb, the final one taking three hours. It’s rather awesome to climb up to the top. We made lots of connections and trialled a bunch of options but we’re not there yet so I’ve set up a provisional mast wand at the back of the boat,” he explained in a video on 16 December.
With the technical issues resolved, the sailor set a course eastwards again, bound for Cape Leeuwin in southern Australia.
It was at 04:00 UTC on 26 December that the IMOCA D'Ieteren Group crossed the longitude of the second cape in the Vendée Globe. He’s now making towards Tasmania which marks the start of the Pacific Ocean and heralds a new stage in his epic adventure: navigating the remotest waters in the world.
Since setting sail on 10 November, Denis has been living his dream and making the most of every moment spent competing in the Vendée Globe. Every day, he highlights how lucky he is to be out there and have the opportunity to admire the seascapes, which he is navigating for the first time.
“I’m realising just how massive it all is. We’re touching the infinitely great with these oceans and we are the infinitesimal aboard our boats. We are but fleeting passengers in these oceans. It is this paradox and contrast, which really strikes me,” says the Belgian sailor.
On top of all this, it is also Denis’ first Christmas at sea… He’s been able to open the gifts from his nearest and dearest and read the words penned for him in a special ‘visitors’ book’.
Clearly moved, he explains how it feels: “It really tugs at the heart strings and it’s given me the strength to carry on.
A big thank you too to the kids who’ve sent me loads of drawings and words of encouragement. Merry Christmas to one and all. Enjoy being with your loved ones!”
“The first 4 weeks were lovely but the past 2 weeks in the Indian have dragged on. The ocean and the weather have been complicated as they’ve been very fickle. There are often big discrepancies between the GRIB files and the conditions out on the water. You have to take care, stay on your guard and demonstrate good seamanship. We’re heading for Tasmania now and we’ll have to watch our step as there are depressions rolling in. I’ve had a few minor issues on the boat, especially with the masthead wand. I’ve managed to rig up something that works very well though. I’ve also had to dismantle one of my watermakers, which I repaired when I had calmer conditions. Other than that, all’s well aboard. I’m still happy to be here. Some people have rounded Cape Horn whilst I’m passing Cape Leeuwin. We’re worlds apart but that’s part of what makes the Vendée Globe so rich.”