It was in calm weather: a sea of oil, a few squalls and beautiful winter light, that the trimaran Actual left the pontoons of La-Trinité-sur-Mer. The weather is in stark contrast to the conditions awaiting her this evening: 20 knots set, squalls gusting to 30 knots NW'ly.
"It's more or less the same weather pattern as at the first start (on 4th November), which will enable her to round Cape Finisterre from tomorrow morning. He's going to set off quietly, just enough time to get up to speed. He should be able to reach the Equator in around ten days time" details Christian Dumard, Yves' router.
On leaving the Bay of Biscay, Yves le Blévec will have to deal with a depression, which for the moment is blocking the trade winds. He should negotiate it from the east, in headwinds, before tackling a zone of calm as he approaches Cape Verde.
"I'm going around the world, ours, mine, upside down, against all the elements, longer, harder, maybe more beautiful... ? There's a beautiful page to write, it's a big jump. I'm going to look for a beautiful story of a sailor, a special story in my life, a story with Actual which makes a lot of sense within the partnership we've built together. I really want to show the full potential of this magnificent boat, mine too.
The Actual team has rechecked the chek-lists, revalidated everything, rechecked everything, but we can do it a hundred times, but that won't prevent a breakage or a breakdown after a few hours of racing... In any case, the team has done its job perfectly and I'm leaving with full confidence, in the boat, and in the sailor as well, for that matter. After that, we'll have to be a little more successful. I really want to show the full potential of this magnificent boat, mine too."
