The sixth week of the Vendée Globe has been all about maintenance for Ollie—maintaining his boat, his position in the fleet, and himself.
At the close of Week 5, fatigue was setting in after several days of challenging conditions. Strong winds, often reaching 45 knots (far exceeding the forecasted 32 knots), and towering seas were taking their toll.
Sailing in rough weather is a constant battle—physically exhausting and mentally draining as every movement must be calculated to protect both yourself and your boat from damage.
Maintaining a resilient mindset
On Day 38 (Tuesday, 17th December), Ollie received the news that two boats had been forced to retire due to severe damage (the British Pip Hare who dismasted, and Hungarian Szabi Weöres on New Europe with rigging damage). He was saddened by the skippers' situations, knowing the immense effort it takes to get to the start line of a race like this, especially for international teams.
“You can't win in a moment, but you can lose everything”
This renewed his resolve to stick with his conservative strategy—a reminder that endurance, not just speed, is what will get him to the finish line.
DIY Days on Board
By Day 40 (Thursday, 19th December), the winds began to ease, offering a rare opportunity for some much-needed maintenance. The top batten of Ollie’s mainsail had broken during the storms, and he took advantage of the calmer conditions to replace it.
“Normally, this is a straightforward job, but in 5.5-metre swells, it took me nearly six hours.”
Adding to the jobs list, the Cunningham broke during the repair. While he was able to switch to a spare line temporarily, he’ll need to splice a new one soon.
Ollie also reported that one of the window seals was leaking—a recurring issue he thought he’d fixed earlier in the race. Though the repair held for a while, it still isn’t fully watertight and will need another look.
The Keel Hydraulics Challenge
The biggest technical challenge this week has been the keel hydraulics. Late on Thursday afternoon (Day 40) while preparing to gybe, Ollie heard an unusual noise. On investigation, he discovered a leak in the keel hydraulic fluid reservoir.
The keel hydraulics play a vital role in swinging the keel side to side, balancing the boat and reducing heel. Often, any hydraulic fluid leakage can be recovered inside the boat. However, this time, the fluid leaked out of a seal and into the keelbox, making it irrecoverable.
This means Ollie can still cant the keel to starboard, but not to port. He is unlikely to be able to fix this whilst at sea, as a result, when he is sailing on port tack, the boat will heel significantly more, requiring careful adjustments with ballast and sail stacking to try to offset this.
While this will impact performance when on port tack, especially when sailing upwind, Ollie declared that the issue "is not a showstopper" and he remains determined to continue racing and finish his first attempt at the Vendée Globe.
Self-Care in the Southern Ocean
Sailing along the edge of the Antarctic Exclusion Zone brings bone-chilling conditions. Ollie joked, “I’m wearing all of my layers!”
The Southern Ocean tests every sailor’s resilience. Tasks like changing a sail on the foredeck leave Ollie soaked by icy waves, his fingers numb as he wrestles with the hatch to pull out the new sail and attached the fittings securely.
To combat the cold and fatigue, Ollie has extra high-calorie meals packed for this phase of the race. While he has tired of freeze-dried food now, he says, “Buffalo Mac ‘n’ Cheese is the one I am least fed up of!”
On Saturday, 21st December (day 42), during an interview, Ollie shared his guilty secret — earlier in the week he had taken a rare long nap. Typically, he sleeps in short one-hour bursts, to maintain an active watch for as long as possible. But the cold and exhaustion had built up. With a spell of lighter winds, Ollie decided it was time for some self-care.
“I put on dry thermals, set my alarm, and crawled into my super-warm polar sleeping bag for a four-hour snooze. It’s not the most competitive thing to do, but for your body—it works wonders!”
Self-care, Ollie emphasized, is critical in a race like this. “It’s all about listening to your body. When you’re on good form, thinking clearly, making disciplined decisions, and staying within your limits, it feels amazing.”
Looking Ahead
Despite the setbacks, Ollie is pushing forward towards Tasmania and the next significant milestone; the half-way mark. His ability to balance performance with self-care and careful maintenance is a testament to his mental and physical preparation.
As he continues his journey through the icy Southern Ocean, the race becomes not just about speed but about endurance—of both man and machine.
This is great to read and very inspiring. THANK YOU! Sam.