Yachting: Le Cleac'h Holding Off Thomson As Vendee Finish Nears
Fakhir Rizvi Published January 17, 2017 | 03:40 PM
PARIS, , (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Jan, 2017 ) - Despite the valiant attempts of Alex Thomson to reel him in, Frenchman Armel Le Cleac'h appeared headed for victory Tuesday in the Vendee Globe solo round the world race with 600 nautical miles to go.
Thomson, in his Hugo Boss, has been shaving down his rival's lead in recent days and Sunday set a 24-hour speed record for distance covered in a single hulled yacht in 24 hours, skimming across 536.81 nautical miles of ocean at an average speed of 22.36 knots.
But Le Cleac'h has steadied his Banque Populaire VIII and held a lead of 74.9 nautical miles as both raced towards the French coast. Organisers expect the race winner to cross the line between 0700 and 1500 GMT on Thursday.
With the wind having dropped, the Frenchman was still under pressure to keep the dogged Thomson at bay as they steered towards the English Channel, where northeasterly winds awaited, at an average 17 knots.
Thomson has been fighting to close the gap for 45 days since Le Cleac'h ended his brief spell at the head of the race. But the chances of his actually becoming the first Briton to win look slim given that the distance he has to make up exceeds 10% of the total remaining distance.
Le Cleac'h is straining to go one better than two runner-up showings and those who know him think he will not let the chance of glory slip.
Recent Stories
Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi's medical tests conducted on court orders
Pakistan requesting multi-billion-dollar loan programme from IMF: Finance Minist ..
Passing out parade of cadets at PMA Kakul
Govt bringing reforms in energy, revenue collection, SOEs: Aurangzeb
Pakistan, New Zealand to face off in 2nd T20I match at Rawalpindi today
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 20 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 20 April 2024
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results - 1st update
Swiatek's perfect 10 in Stuttgart as Vondrousova stuns Sabalenka
Arandu's roads closed due to flooding
Oil tanker catches fire in Islamabad’s Blue Area
Pakistan committed to ensure safety of foreign nationals: FO
More Stories From Pakistan
-
President summons Senate session on April 25
6 minutes ago -
ECP launches Monitoring Center for registering bye-elections complaints
6 minutes ago -
APHC deplores Indian troops’ atrocities against IIOJK people
15 minutes ago -
Study suggests standardized packing, health warning labeling, taxes to regulate smokeless tobacco pr ..
15 minutes ago -
Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi's medical tests conducted on court orders
20 minutes ago -
Tributes paid to Kashmiri iconic leader Haider Khan
25 minutes ago
-
IRSA releases 124,700 cusecs water
25 minutes ago -
IIOJ&K converted into open-air prison since illegal abrogation of Art 370: Mehbooba Mufti
25 minutes ago -
AJK PM vows to utilize all resources for state's progress, people's welfare
25 minutes ago -
Sports gala begins
35 minutes ago -
4th International Public Health conference concluded in KMU
35 minutes ago -
Hashim Kakar takes oath as CJ Balochistan High Court
36 minutes ago