Departure for the Record
The weather window watched by Alan Roura and his team was the right one. Alan Roura left New York on Thursday, July 11, 2019 for Cape Lizard, England. IMOCA La Fabrique crossed the fictitious starting line off Ambrose lighthouse at 19:25 UTC (21:25 French time). The objective for the young Swiss skipper is to beat the North Atlantic record in monohull racing held by Marc Guillemot on Safran since 2013, in 8 days 5 hours, 20 minutes and 20 seconds.
After a start in 10 knots of wind in New York Bay, Friday's conditions will be rather rough with 40 to 45 knots of wind. It will then be necessary to keep up with the rhythm of lows moving from west to east, before perhaps finding themselves braked as they approach the English Channel - the fault being the Azores high, sometimes located very far north.
"I've been a little stressed since yesterday (Wednesday) but I can't wait to get there aller?! Since I've been thinking about this record... By trying to beat it, I'm still dealing with some hell of a sailor. But I'm not going to give up anything, I'm going to give everything I have to make it happen. The boat is ready, but it remains to be seen what the weather will really be like and then it's up to the man to do the job." alan Roura spoke before his departure.
La Fabrique Sailing Team
A good training before the Vendée Globe
"It's the best idea we can have a year before the Vendée Globe. It's a great course, a very interesting training, which requires a lot of commitment. Alan's idea is really good, I like people who like to sail, to go to the confrontation. The Vendée is so difficult that I think it's really great to be prepared with this type of course. And it's a great challenge, there's a real challenge: having the best solo time in IMOCA is still fun.
Any advice for Alan?? Let him do his shopping. The time is one thing, but let him do it as well as he can. The most important level of safety is that we must remain extremely vigilant all the way to Newfoundland. The first 50 hours of crossing will be difficult, in a very busy area with little visibility. So we're a little rinsed from the beginning.
Otherwise I don't have to teach him a lesson, Alan is a good sailor, full of qualities and I know the boat he has improved well. He has everything he needs to go fast and improve this weather if the weather allows him to. It's going to be exciting to follow." explained Marc Guillemot.
