Tanguy Le Turquais, during the Vendée Globe, approached Point Nemo in the Pacific Ocean while facing challenging conditions at sea. Celebrating the New Year aboard his IMOCA, he dealt with relentless maneuvers to avoid ice zones and struggled with physical and emotional exhaustion. Despite the harsh weather and lack of sleep, he remained optimistic about reaching Cape Horn, sharing insights about his navigation tactics and the demanding impact of the squalls he encountered.
Tanguy Le Turquais’s Journey Towards Cape Horn
In the eighth week of the Vendée Globe, Tanguy Le Turquais found himself nearing Point Nemo in the vast Pacific Ocean. Holding the 21st position, the captain of the Lazare was working hard to recover from delays caused by the recent anticyclone. “It’s been nearly 50 days without seeing another soul, 50 days with little sleep and no chance to wash, and 50 days of relentless competition in this race,” Tanguy remarked, with his sights set on reaching Cape Horn just a week later.
A Challenging New Year at Sea
As day 52 arrived, Tanguy, like the rest of the Vendée Globe fleet, welcomed the New Year aboard his IMOCA. “Happy New Year 2025 to everyone! Celebrating nearly at Point Nemo,” he wished his followers, despite the bleak weather conditions. “I’m stuck in my cabin, and when I peek outside, it resembles Mordor—everything is gray, and the sea is pitch black. It’s really not inviting to go out.” With temperatures plummeting in the southern hemisphere, Tanguy allowed himself a bit of heating for the holiday. Yet, amidst the harsh conditions, he found solace: “I had a delightful meal thanks to my mother-in-law, Martine.” To keep his mind active during this solitary celebration, he engaged in a game of chess, triumphing over the computer. “I don’t indulge in many entertainments, but I needed a distraction.” Despite the cold and isolation, Tanguy radiated positivity, expressing his joy to be spending New Year’s almost at Point Nemo: “This was my dream, and next, it’s on to Cape Horn, Les Sables-d’Olonne, and ultimately finishing the Vendée Globe.”
On day 53, Tanguy shared insights into his navigation tactics. “For the past few days, we’ve been making numerous jibes—maneuvers to adjust to the wind by shifting from side to side to stay clear of the ice zone.” He illustrated his zigzag course, which kept him south of the ice zone, explaining, “We’re doing about ten of these maneuvers every 24 hours, which is quite physically demanding, taking about 20 minutes each time.” The physical exertion began to weigh heavily on him.
By day 54, the continuous vigilance required aboard Lazare had taken a toll on Tanguy’s spirit, as he admitted to feeling “extremely physically and emotionally drained.” The challenging conditions had not made it easy: “The past few days have been tough, with highly unstable winds requiring constant maneuvering, which inevitably takes a toll on the body.” The presence of icebergs added to the emotional strain: “We endured 36 to 48 hours of iceberg alerts, demanding unwavering attention, and fatigue left me feeling less clear-headed.” Despite his struggles, Tanguy remained determined: “But I’m happy to be here.”
On day 55, Tanguy faced ever-changing weather that tested even the most resilient sailors. He pointed to a massive cloud formation behind him: “This is one reason I’ve been struggling; I’ve dealt with this squall for 48 hours. Since sunrise, I’ve encountered eight of these systems, and it’s only 3 PM. It’s tough because the winds can gust up to 50 knots, and I know I’ll need to reduce my sails.” This constant state of alertness had severely impacted his sleep: “I haven’t been able to sleep more than half an hour at a time for the past week.” We wish Tanguy Le Turquais smooth sailing towards Cape Horn, hoping he finds time to rest soon.