The start of the 14th edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre 2019 was given on Sunday 27 October at 13:15. The 59 duets - who had left the pontoons in the early morning - left Le Havre in a little medium wind. For this first start, 16 miles of a coastal route towards the Normandy Region buoy, anchored at the foot of the cliffs of Étretat.
With this north-north-easterly wind and especially this strong headwind (high tidal coefficient of 101), those who had chosen to sail along the cliffs had made the right choice. The three Multi50s were flown by the Vauchel-Camus/Duthil crew. In the IMOCA group, the latest generation foilers seemed to be struggling, less comfortable in these light conditions on heavy seas. Only Apivia was doing well, having decided to stay at the coast. The non- foilers were at the top of the fleet, with Banque Populaire X at the top. In Class40, Aïna Enfance et Avenir made the best start.
Unprecedented weather conditions
After 24 rather mild hours in the Channel, thanks to the high pressure placed over the north of the British Isles, which is channelling a good northeast flow, things got more complicated during the night from Sunday to Monday. The wind has increased to 25-30 knots with several changes of downwind sails and numerous gybes.
In the evening of Monday, it will be important not to let go of your attention and the decision of the pairs will be decisive.
The great depression that hugs the North Atlantic is indeed a real "traffic separation system". Richard Silvani from Météo France explains: "Traditionally in this season, the disruptions sweep across the Atlantic, allowing the skippers to move west and then south as they pass the fronts. This year, the big depression is stationary and forms a real blocking situation."
Thus, the first option will lead the competitors towards Spain and then the African coasts, by dragging around in a more or less strong wind, but still camped to the southwest. The other choice would be to bypass the depression from the west by making the rounds, with very strong downwind conditions, a calm and crossed sea in the north-west of the Azores archipelago... and 400 miles more to cover to reach Salvador de Bahia.
Technical problems and dismasting
Thomas Ruyant Advens for Cybersecurity's foiler observed a stop in Cherbourg this Sunday evening to perform a quick intervention on its autopilot cylinders. Thomas Ruyant and Antoine Koch had to wait four hours as required by the regulations to leave and close the gap some 80 miles from the leaders.
At 7:50 this morning, while leading the Class40 fleet, Luke Berry and Tanguy Le Turquais joined the race management of the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre to report that the Class40 Lamotte - Creation Module had dismasted.
