While the leaders have just passed Madeira, the last ones are still in the Channel and the fleet is stretching out over 900 miles. The 75 competitors in the Route du Rhum are no longer sailing in the same weather system. Still led by Loïck Peyron, the Ultimates will start to slip along the south-eastern edge of the Azores high, while the other classes will continue to suffer from the Atlantic low-pressure systems.
The litany of damage, breakdowns and technical stops is now calming down. The majority of the sailors have undergone the "crash test" even if a few retirements and misfortunes are still to be deplored: Vincent Riou, one of the great favorites of the IMOCA class and Pierre Antoine, aboard Olmix, who had to be airlifted out. The sailors will start to rest and take stock of the broken things, hoping to be able to repair them by themselves in calmer conditions.
Off the Bay of Biscay and Cape Finistere, the sailing conditions are still demanding under the stormy squall lines. So it's not the time to relax. For the Ultimates on the other hand, it will soon be time to slacken the sheets and free up some sail.
The Ultimates are finally out of the "storm
"It feels like the end of the tunnel" , "The biggest thing is behind us" , "We came out of the big gusts." . The sun has returned and the weather is improving for the Ultimates who are sailing downwind. The sea is calming down and the north-westerly wind is becoming more regular, so the skippers will finally be able to rest. The speeds took a step up yesterday afternoon with peaks regularly exceeding 30 knots. Loïck Peyron is still leading the way and is even tending to widen the gap: 100 miles over Spindrift 2 and Edmond de Rothschild, who has shifted to the west. The whole gang will be going around the Azores high via the south before finding the trade winds. " We attack the great anticyclonic chistera" says Peyron. Let's go for a 2,800-mile speed and glide race towards the sun.
Multi50, a decimated class
Pierre Antoine had to be rescued after his boat sank. Lightning struck the mast of his trimaran Olmix, piercing the hull and setting fire to the electric cables. The sailor, who is safe and sound, got a good scare and was rescued by a Spanish helicopter. His boat is in distress. There are only 4 skippers left in the race, the Multi50 class having been decimated� For the moment it is Lalou Roucayrol who is at the top of the ranking since Yves Le Blévec also had to abandon the race.
IMOCA, Vincent Riou retires and Gabart still in the lead
Threatened by the Azores high, the Imoca fleet has chosen to head west to avoid being stuck along the Portuguese coast. This option was perfectly anticipated by Macif, Maître Coq and Safran since they changed tack at Ushant. The sailing conditions are still difficult and the technical problems are still preventing the sailors from sleeping. Driven by a strong north-westerly wind, the boats are making good speeds of over 20 knots. François Gabart (Macif), in the lead since the Cape Fréhel buoy, continues to outrun his pursuers, who are now more than 40 miles behind.
Class40, a new abandonment
At the request of the Race Direction, the leader Sébastien Rogues had to withdraw to help Pierre Antoine whose Multi50 was sinking and this morning he announced his withdrawal from the race, having just torn his Mainsail and suffering numerous technical damages. The head of the fleet is taken by Kito de Pavant.
Rhum Class: Atlantic bifurcation
The weather conditions were much less harsh on this second day and the solo sailors who made a technical stopover took advantage of it to get back on track. Like Patrick Morvan (Ortis) who left Camaret at daybreak, as well as Pierrick Tollemer (Ensemble pour entreprendre) from Brest, Bob Escoffier (Groupe Guisnel) and Benjamin Hardouin (Krit'R V) from Roscoff. Julien Mabit (Komilfo), on stand-by in Aber Wrac'h, finally decided to abandon. The fleet has split into two groups with the Italian leader Andrea Mura (Vento di Sardegna) following the IMOCA monohulls and Anne Caseneuve (Aneo) on the trail of the Multi50âeuros¦ A new disturbance is due to arrive on Wednesday evening bringing south-westerly winds for 24 hours: the multihulls should therefore dive quickly to the south so as not to slow down, while the monohulls can gain in westerly direction to reach the favourable tipping point of the firstâeuros¦
