From the euphoria of rounding Cape Horn last week to the challenges of tricky windholes, week 11 has tested Ollie’s patience and resilience, but finished on a high note - quite literally.
DIY DAYS

After his mast head gennaker exploded and became unusable on Sunday 19th January (Day 71), Ollie stayed positive, keeping busy with proactive maintenance jobs on Monday 20th January (Day 72).
First, he tackled one of his main winches which hadn’t been sounding right. Taking it apart, Ollie discovered that three out of the four springs inside had seized up. Thankfully he had spares and was able to replace them, restoring the winch to full function before it became a serious issue. He also spotted some chafing on the sheath of his J2 furling line, and pulled out his sewing kit to whip the frayed ends into place, preventing further damage.
CHALLENGING CHOICES
On Tuesday 21st January, Day 73, Ollie faced a critical decision; whether to take an inshore route closer to land or stay further offshore. After several days of studying the weather forecasts and careful deliberation, he chose the inshore route.
By Wednesday 22nd (Day 74) it became clear that the offshore route would have been a better choice. Fellow competitor, Antoine Cornic (Human Immobilier) who had been 300 miles behind had closed the gap to just 100 miles whilst Ollie was caught in a wind hole. He chose the offshore route and was soon 300 miles ahead.
Frustrated, Ollie commented
“Antoine sailed well. But for me, it is a bitter pill to swallow. I just didn’t see it was possible to get into the little wind system that he is in. It’s frustrating. I have to ask myself why this happened – am I getting mentally fatigued? Was I too complacent? The weather here in the South Atlantic is much more complex than I’d anticipated – so this is definitely a learning for the next time I am down here, hopefully in the Vendée Globe 2028”
Persistent Port
Ollie’s ‘unlucky left’ not only left him lingering in a windless transition zone for longer than planned, but also kept him on port tack for most of the week. As Ollie is unable to cant his keel to port, the boat heels over much more, which is uncomfortable and limits Ollie to about 85% of his target speed, a frustrating combination.
Damage to the Main Sail
On Saturday 25th January (Day 77) Ollie reported that whilst putting in a reef to keep the boat more level whilst sailing upwind, one of the friction rings in the stack pack inverted and punctured a small hole into the main sail.
Although the hole was minor, it was crucial to repair it before it worsened. Unfortunately, this meant dropping the main sail, reducing performance and requiring Ollie to climb the mast – an unnerving prospect, especially when sailing solo.
The short sharp waves on Sunday prevented Ollie form climbing the mast or addressing the mainsail issue. He was forced to wait for calmer conditions, with the looming task of the mast climb weighing on his nerves.

Climbed and Conquered
On Monday 27th January, the sun was shining, the wind had eased and the sea state had flattened and Ollie seized the opportunity to climb the mast and fix the friction ring issue.
Taking advantage of these ideal conditions, Ollie will also drop the main sail to repair the hole ensuring the boat is in the best condition for the remaining 4,500nm back to Les Sables d’Olonne.

Looking ahead
Currently, the airflow is driven by the St Helena high and in Ollie’s current location, the wind is coming from the north – the exact direction Ollie is trying to sail in.
Over the next few days Ollie will focus on navigating the quickest route northwards, hopefully moving into a more westerly wind which will allow him to point north and head towards the equator.
Week 11 has been a test of patience, problem-solving, and endurance. With every challenge overcome, Ollie is closer to the finish line, showcasing the grit and resilience demanded by the Vendée Globe—the Everest of the Seas.
Ollie has just 20% of the round the world circumnavigation remaining and he is fighting hard to ensure both his boat and himself are in the best possible condition to reach the finish.
keep going Ollie - you're doing great! ☺️