Peyron takes off
Loïck Peyron managed to escape the high pressure bubble off Madeira on Wednesday morning, unlike his Ultimates competitors. He is therefore benefiting modestly from the trade winds and is averaging more than 20 knots, while the others are barely reaching 10 knots. The skipper of Maxi Solo Banque Populaire VII has widened the gap since he is more than 300 miles from his pursuers. Only Yann Guichard (Spindrift 2) managed to get out of the calms in the afternoon but is more than 200 miles from the leaderâeuros¦
Another depression
On the Imoca side, François Gabart ( Macif ) is off the Azores and is facing a new depression: a south-westerly breeze of about twenty knots. Beyond the latitude of the Azores, the sea is still manageable but it is once again tiring for the skippers as well as for the boats.
On the Multi50 side, Yves Le Blévec (Actual ) was finally able to leave Cascais (Portugal) on Wednesday at around 7 p.m., but is now in last place in the rankings, more than 300 miles behind the leader Lalou Roucayrol ( Arkema Aquitaine Region ). The latter is taking advantage of its option to pass off Ushant. He hit the new low first and is also going to meet the front.
The Class40s, which are subject to a westerly wind of a dozen knots, will have to deal with a stronger south-westerly flow during the day. They will therefore have to tack to move back towards the West as on the coast of Madeira, a high pressure bubble is making the trajectory very uncertain¦ The last Class40s risk being pushed back, along with the Rhum Class, towards Cape Finisterre where the breeze could reach more than 40 knots next night.
Pierrick Tollemer ( Together for business ) is heading to La Coruña for energy concerns having lost its hydro-generator.
An upcoming arrival
The Ultimates will therefore be able to follow the trade winds until the arrival of the leader scheduled for the beginning of the week, while the other classes will have to get out of this depression by trying to gain ground in the west.
