The 37 duets in the Transat Jacques Vabre set sail for Brazil - from Le Havre - on Sunday 5th November 2017. Each in their own category, they have only one desire, to reach the end of this 4350-mile course. And why not climb on the podium. But who are the favourite crews to win - each in their respective class - the victory?
Even if some of them stand out after 2 days of racing, let's not forget that the race is split in two parts. Because the Doldrums are likely to seriously reshuffle the cards. After the passage of this Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), known for its zones of calm and violent squalls - a long reaching navigation will follow and conditions will no longer be the same as at the start of the race.
The Ultimate
In the Ultimate class, the duel will take place between Edmond de Rothschild and Sodebo, Prince of Brittany being a little older.
Technically, Sébastien Josse and Thomas Rouxel on the Maxi Edmond de Rotschild - the latest generation Ultime recently launched ( read the article ) - are the favourites of the event. It is the sharpest boat in this class and thanks to its foils, it must be able to fly close to the wind (around 80°). If that's the case, it can really have a surplus of speed.
Let's not forget Sodebo Ultim' with Thomas Coville and Jean-Luc Nélias at the helm, whose talents will be put to the test. The round the world record holder knows his boat like the back of his hand. With the right choice of sail and Jean-Luc's routing skills, the duo will perhaps be able to get through the doldrums more easily.
IMOCA
It's a close game. For the time being, a trio of invincibles has formed at the head of the fleet, with small baton passes within this group: St-Michel Virbac (Jean-Pierre Dick and Yann Eliès), SMA (Paul Meilhat and Gwénolé Gahinet), Des Voiles and You! (Morgan Lagravière and Eric Peron).
If the conditions were to allow foiling, the advantage would go to the two foilers - St-Michel Virbac and Des Voiles et Vous! (ex-safran). The first is in the hands of Jean-Pierre Dick, who is running his last race before handing over to Yann Eliès. The second is led by Morgan Lagravière who is looking for a new sponsor... Talented and promising, after his retirement from the Vendée Globe, he has to get his revenge.
As for Paul Meilhat, on SMA, he hasn't said his last word and is hungry for victory. He will use all his talent alongside Gwénolé Gahinet to try and take first place on the podium. He has also demonstrated his potential by winning the Rolex Fastnet Race and the Armen Race this year.
The Multi50
As for the Multi50s, FenêtréA-Mix Buffet (Erwan Le Roux and Vincent Riou) are the favourites. This striking duo is made up of the two title holders - the first in the Multi50s and the second in the IMOCA class.
Thierry Bouchard and Olivier Krauss (Ciela Village) are aboard a latest-generation Multi50 that has just been launched, but they don't have the same experience.
Will the outsider duo Lalou Roucayrol/Alex Pella (Arkema) continue to win at the head of the fleet?
Class40
In Class 40, half the board can win. There are some very good sailors, like Justine Mettraux/Betrand Delesne (Teamwork 40). The first is over-trained and comes out of a Volvo Ocean Race and the second is a false calm which has held Mini speed records for years.
But we will nevertheless be banking on the victory of the Louis Duc/Alexis Loison duo, who are sailing on Carac, the latest-generation Class40. With its widened bow, which makes it look like a scow, this Lombard design is gaining power over its rivals. Very recent, it is still under study (like the sails) and will not be broken. Its hull is nevertheless likely to be very favourable after the passage through the Doldrums.
On the rest of the podium, Imerys Clean Energy (Phil Sharp/Pablo Santurde) or Campagne de France, led by Halvard Mabire/Miranda Merron, could be seen as a couple in life, as well as at sea.
