The third leg is a long run full south of over 300 nautical miles to the Brittany point. Once the Saint-Georges channel is crossed, between Ireland and Wales, and Wolf Rock lighthouse has been left to port side, east of the Scilly Isles, a further 90 nautical miles will remain to reach the coast of Finistère.

The Portsall Grande Basse buoy marks the entrance of a coastal part of the course as the skippers then need to round the Brittany point leaving Ushant to starboard. Careful and good tactical choices will be of utmost importance. Some skippers will undoubtedly attempt the passage by the Fromveur leaving the Molène archipelago and the Isle of Sein to port; others, depending on the weather windows and the currents, will opt for the Four channel and the Sein undertow, aware that these passages are marked by strong currents that can really get in the way of making progress.

The course is then clear to sail to the south of Brittany and reach the Vendée: a further 130 miles of long-distance racing to Les Sables d’Olonne. The options should remain open however as some may decide, in the event of weak winds, to take a more easterly course, looking for coastal breezes between the isles of Groix, Bell-Île or Yeu. Others shall opt for following the more direct course, more offshore, to reach the cardinal South mark Le Nouch, that has become legendary thanks to the Vendée Globe.