The Défi Atlantique is a crewed race (two minimum, four maximum), reserved for Class40 boats, which links Pointe-à-Pitre to Horta and then Horta to La Rochelle. On Saturday 23 March 2019, the twelve Class40s taking part in this first edition crossed the starting line off the islet gosier at 10am local time (3pm Paris time) with a 16/17 knot E'ly wind and a small chop off Pointe-à-Pitre.
Before setting off on the first 2,200-mile leg between Guadeloupe and the Azores, the boats make a 35 mile coastal course via Trois Rivière and Saint Louis, along Basse-Terre, before heading for Marie Galante and Saint-Louis.
Made In Midi (Kito de Pavant and Alex Pella) was the first to cross the starting line, followed by Aïna Enfance et Avenir (Aymeric Chappellier) and Eärendil (Catherine Pourre). Campagne de France (Miranda Merron) apparently has mainsail problems and is at the back of the pack.
For this first edition of the race, the sailors should meet good conditions and for this first day a stable and moderate trade wind
The last mandatory passage mark before the open sea is Marie-Galante's buoy, located about 35 miles from the start. It was Aïna Enfance et Avenir (Aymeric Chappellier) who crossed it first, at 14:17 local time, with a nice 25-minute lead over the second Scout Spirit. Earendil (Catherine Pourre) was in third place, with Lamotte - Module Création (Luke Berry) in his wake.
