A reduced course
This 2nd leg has been reduced from 497 miles to 4040 miles, replacing the Wolf Rock lighthouse in south-west England with the Eddystone lighthouse further east. A decision justified by routings announcing up to 4 days of racing. However, with a 504 mile leg 3 between Dunkirk and Saint-Nazaire given on Saturday and a recovery period of three days, it is difficult to keep to the timing.
With this new course, the race time is estimated at two and a half days, including a long tack under spinnaker between the south of England and Dunkirk.
A quick step
The start was given at 1100, in a west-north-westerly breeze of around ten knots and in less rough seas than on the first leg. It was Adrien Hardy (Ocean Attitude) who crossed the clearing buoy in the lead after 25 minutes, followed by rookie Erwan Le Draoulec (Skipper Macif 2020) and Tom Laperche (Brittany CMB Espoir).
Given the small gaps at the finish of the first stage - won by Xavier Macaire (SNEF Group) - all the podium contenders have a chance. And once again, the gaps are likely to be reduced. With a course that is not very difficult - climbing over England upwind and descending downwind - speed will be required.
And these first 24 hours will be decisive in this game, as Armel le Cléac'h, at the head of the fleet explains: "The weather forecast looks a bit complicated as far as Eddystone, with wind variations to negotiate, you're going to have to be good to be well placed. A good part of the rankings will be set up on Monday, because I think that behind, with the big downwind tack towards Dunkirk, it will be more complicated to get back."
