Weather Mayhem. Mid Race Iceland Mark Finish of the Vendee Arctique 2022.

FLASH SPECIAL Vendée Arctique – Les Sables d’Olonne: the race course is shortened, stopped at the Iceland gate. The strong low pressure system in the North Atlantic near Iceland which is hitting the fleet still racing on the Vendée Arctique Les Sables d’Olonne has proven to be more dangerous than first forecast. The race direction has decided to make the Iceland Gate – to the east of Iceland – the finish line. Three solo skippers had already crossed the gate this morning, Charlie Dalin (APIVIA), Jérémie Beyou (Charal) and Thomas Ruyant (LinkedOut). At the time of writing Benjamin Ferré (Monnoyeur-Duo for a Job) was approaching what has become the finish line and was set to take fourth position. But the increasing threat from the low pressure precipitated the organisation’s decision this evening. A constant detailed analysis of all of the weather models and the weather phenomena in the area affecting the 20 solo skippers still racing, finally made the decision obvious, considering the need to allow the solo racers to remove themselves from the worst threat as soon as possible, either by taking shelter or sailing away from the worst of the winds.