Launched at 30 knots on the press launch, we are struggling to keep up with the Ultims who are cutting the line perched on their foils. We approach the Banque Populaire float which rises gracefully - as a sign of goodbye.
I've been around this boat all week, but I'll never get used to its excess. Even the 10 meters of our star - which seemed fat to me this morning - are getting ridiculous next to this machine. We pass in turn near each of the 6 Ultimates. Every time I am amazed. I'm standing as best I can, but don't want to lose a drop of this show. All around the regatta is in full swing.
We slow down to let the Multi 50 fleet catch up. The more fickle they get, the more they rise with each burst. Armel Tripon on Réauté Chocolat is leading the way. He is closely followed by Solidaire en Peloton and FenetréA-Mix Buffet. Their three hulls touch the water, supported by the foils. They emit a feeling of lightness, even fragility, rising and falling with the wind.
As for the IMOCAs, they are passing in force through the little chop and wakes of the motor boats that accompany them. The power they develop breaks the sea in sheaves of water. PRB is the first at our level, it dominates the monohull fleet.
A little more upwind, we discover the brand new Charal by Jérémy Beyou. The last boat launched, it's the first time I've seen it sail, this hull has been specially developed around the foils. Its bow hovers above the water and the lapping, remains buoyant for several seconds before gently descending again, lifting sprays of water.
Behind them come Hugo Boss' black sails. He was caught between two drift boats: SMA and Yacht Club de Monaco. Each skipper has his own personality, and Alex Thomson's is well known. His boat is the most canvasized in the fleet. It carries its gennaker capelage coupled to its J2 (where most of the boats in the fleet only carry their J1).
Finally, the first Class40s followed, with the favourites in the lead: Antoine Carpentier (Custopol) ; Kito de Pavant (Made In Midi) ; Nicolas Troussel (Corum).
We meet again for a last wave of hands all the sailors we met throughout the week and who made us discover their boat, their passion and their history.
A boat could not start with everyone: Nicolas Magnan's SOS Parebrise hit the threshold as it left the port of Les Bas-Sablons. He had to wait until the tide came in before he could escape from the dock.
The Ultimates passed through Ushant with nightfall (18h45 for Macif), nearly an hour ahead of schedule... Already a pre-announcement of a record for the race? Multi Rum and Class40 should not arrive before 2am. The Rhum Mono will close the gap. The first ones will pass Ushant around 5am on Monday. With more difficulties for the last ones who will start to feel the change in the weather...
Ranking in Cap Fréhel
- Utlime 14h34 Sébastien Josse (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild) - François Gabart (Macif) - Armel Le Cléac'h (Banque Populaire)
- Multi 50 14h41 Armel Tripon (Réauté Chocolat) - Thibaut Vauchel Camus (Solidaire en Peloton) - Erwan leroux (FenetréA-Mix Buffet)
- IMOCA 15h02 Vincent Rioux (PRB) - Jérémy Beyou (Charal) - Boris Herrmann (Mazilia II-Yacht Club de Monaco)
- RumMulti 15h04 Fabrice Payen (Team Vent Debout) - David Ducosson (Air antilles - caseneuve maxi catamaran) - Jean François Liti (Ecole Diagonale pour Citoyens du Monde)
- RumMono 15h25 Sidney Gavignet (Café Joyeux) - Sébastien Destremeau (AlcatrazIT - FaceOcean) - Andrea Mura (Vento di Sardegna)
- Class40 15h32 Antoine Carpentier (Custopol) - Nicolas Troussel (Corum) - Kito de Pavant (Made In Midi)
