After a first stage of the Atlantic Challenge - between Pointe-à-Pitre and Horta - won by Aïna Enfance et Avenir (Aymeric Chappellier), it is time for the second stage. The 11 competitors competing in the first edition of this race, exclusively reserved for Class40 cars, left the Azores on Monday, April 8, 2019 at 3:08 pm French time. A stage of 1?300 miles which will lead them towards La Rochelle.
The sailboats left the port of Faial Island to reach the starting line anchored between the two ends of the commercial port dikes. A configuration that allows the inhabitants of Horta to enjoy a breathtaking view. And as on the first stage, it was Made In Midi (Kito de Pavant) who crossed the line first, ahead of Edenred (Emmanuel Le Roch) and Aïna Enfance et Avenir (Aymeric Chappellier).
On this second stage, the skippers have been able to change their crew and are still sailing between two and four on board. Bateaux.com has embarked on board Colombre XL (Charles-Louis Mourruau), which finished 7th in the first stage, and will take you through the race from the inside. Catherine Pourre - skipper of Eärendil (2nd in Horta) has given way to Pietro Luciani, called to France for professional reasons. And on Campagne de France, Miranda Merron and her sidekick, Didier Le Vourch, have taken on board the Minister Stan Thuret, who will also create an image bank for the Vendée Globe project in Miranda.
With a lead of nearly 9 hours over his runner-up Earendil, and more than 24 hours over Kito De Pavant (Made in Midi), 3rd in Horta, Roche's Aymeric Chappellier has secured a comfortable lead and would like to cross the finish line of his city as winner. But with uncertain conditions at the end of the course and competitors climbing up, the outcome remains uncertain.
"We're going to try to play the same strategy again, i. e. start ahead, accelerate and stay in the lead to make sure that's not where there's a hit at jouer?! I had already said it even before the start of the first stage: the goal for us is to get to the top of the list at maison?! I have the impression that others don't really want us to do the same one again. I feel that they have it a little bit across the way and that they are a little upset about this second step. We're going to start in a small ridge of high pressure, with a little wind in it, but very quickly, a depression will hit us. The wind will gradually increase to 25 knots with gusts to 30. We'll be on the portable and the road should be fast enough to Cape Finisterre. After, on the other hand, it is more uncertain, due to a small bubble. In other words, at the beginning, the strategy will be quite simple since we will go up north and jibe when the barometer starts to decrease a little. In the Bay of Biscay, however, it is likely to become more complex with level crossings and, as a result, elastic bands. You'll have to be fresh and lucid until the end. And of course be devant?!" explained the winner of the first stage before the start.
