12:40 pm - Departure postponed
If the sun is shining on the pontoons of Les Sables-d'Olonne, the fog covers the stretch of water where the 33 skippers are waiting for the start. The start has been delayed by 20 minutes, as the reduced visibility makes it impossible to see the end of the start line.
Whilst the start was initially scheduled at 13h02, it wasn't until 13h22 that the IMOCA boats set sail. Given the fog off Les Sables, the race committee was forced to postpone the start.
1:00 pm - Further postponement of 20 minutes
the start is postponed to 13.42. As the safety conditions for the procedure are not met, the start is again postponed to 14.00.
1:30 pm -Departure at 2:20 pm
The weather conditions are not improving. Visibility on the line does not exceed 800 m. The start will be given at 14:20. Wouldn't it rather be possible to shift the start line at the level of the open water? " As a general rule, it is possible to do so, but on the Vendée globe, there are too many protected areas ", explains Pascal Bidégorry.
Special conditions for the 2020 departure
The skippers had to confine themselves before the start due to the health crisis. Armel Tripon chose to isolate himself with his mental coach.
" This last week has been a restful one for the skippers. This pressure, the sharing with the family, the public, has become lighter. We'd like to be in this configuration for each race start. It's quite paradoxical. We practice a sport of sharing. You feel that you are sharing with the greatest number. For once, they had a good alibi for not responding to the solicitations that are part of the job " explains Loïck Peyron.
14h00 - Departure confirmed at 14h20
Departure is confirmed at 14:20. For safety reasons, the two assistance semi-rigids of the boat will be able to stay close to the boats until 4 minutes before departure.
The skippers are waiting
The skippers are making circles in the water waiting for the start. They are always accompanied by 4 members of their technical team who help them hoist their sails. This is the case on L'Occitane en Provence (Armel Tripon), which has already got into the right starting angle.
The starting procedure
2:20 p.m. will be the time of departure.
- H-8 minutes, flag and cannon fire on the committee boat to the left of the line. To the right of the line will be an orange buoy.
- H-4 minutes, P-Flag is sent
- H-1, the pavilion is down
- At the time of departure, all the flags are down.
The notion of individual recall in the event of premature crossing of the start line, as was the case 4 years ago, will not take place this year, notably because of the foilers with large appendages, which could make the manoeuvre dangerous. The penalty will be 5 hours, to be recovered in the North Atlantic, before the Equator.
Anticipate the first hours after departure
" 20 minutes before the start, the sails must be set, everything must be moored. Everything is stowed on board, the batteries are charged and the crew members are disposed of ", explains Loïck Peyron.
" The boats are very ready, the skippers have been analysing the weather files since this morning. Tonight, the boats will fall into more agitated conditions. The wind will be 20/25 knots. During the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, the gusts will be able to wait for 45 knots with a new front. The first 4 days will be a sport. The skippers will be rinsed off. The trade winds are not well established, there are no trade winds over the Canaries. They won't be able to rest and have a well-established life on board "says Pascal Bidégorry.
2:10 p.m. - Things are speeding up
The crew members are starting to leave the IMOCA boats. They must under no circumstances remain on board within 4 minutes before the start, under penalty of penalty. They are either picked up by semi-rigids, or they jump into the water. Even if the race is long, everyone wants to be the first to cross the start line.
" There's a mind-boggling regatta tension. We're always on fire at the races. But there's the horizon ahead of them and nearly two months of racing in the Vendée Globe. And above all a start line that we want to cross first ", explains Loïck Peyron.
2:16 pm - We set sail!
Software is used to determine the angle that boats must choose to cross the line. They have to choose the sail they are going to send. Samantha Davies has unfurled a Code O, she will sail more canvas than others such as Apivia with a split sail, Charal or PRB. Charal unfurled her sail upwind, PRB downwind. They will now have to manage their departure.
All the skippers are now alone on board to leave.
Where to go?
The shortest way to cut the line seems to be next to the committee boat, but beware of priorities. The fleet is well spread out, the skippers are cautious. Alex Thomson has chosen a J1. The skippers were only able to take on board 7 sails.
2:20 pm - Quiet departure, false start for Bureau Vallée 2
The departure was quiet. But Bureau Vallée 2 cut the line too early and had a 5-hour panic attack. Who will break the 74-day record? Will it be beaten?" The most important thing in a sailing race is not the time, but to finish ahead of the second place finisher ", explains Loïck Peyron.
Jean Le Cam left under J2, for a quiet start. But in four hours, they'll have to change their sails." The start was calm, measured, calm, without too much excitement, except for Louis Burton " explains Loïck Peyron.
2:30 pm - First ranking
Boris Herrmann (SeaExplorer - Yacht Club de Monaco) leads the fleet, followed by Thomas Ruyant (LinkedOut) and Louis Burton (Bureau Vallée 2)
Charal a well-designed boat
" Charal started early to foil in fairly light conditions. It's quite exceptional. He has appendages a little deeper than Apivia.. "comments Pascal Bidégorry.
A slightly flat start with undercover boats
" They know exactly within 30 minutes what they have to do. Change the sails, there will be at least 2 sails to change. Charal has accelerated well. He's faster than Boris Herrmann.. "says Pascal Bidégorry. " We'll soon see the boats that have potential.. " adds Loïck Peyron.
Corum on the attack!
" It's nice, it's clean. Corum attacks hard, Nicolas takes a lot of pleasure. He's very sharp, very motivated from the start. He attacks really cleanly on this start ", comments Loïck Peyron.
The team accompanies its skipper
The RIBs of each team continue to follow their skipper. This is not forbidden by the race direction.
2:40 pm - An easterly wind disturbs the fleet
" I'm surprised to see the boats moving forward, slowing down... The wind must be from the left. Theoretically, there's an escape buoy to be left on the port side. With the direction of the wind, we thought the boats would pass it naturally. But no, the wind is stronger than expected and the boats are sailing downwind, and it's the slowest point of sail.. " explains Loïck Peyron.
As soon as they get past the buoy, it'll be clear!
"It's a shame to see fighter planes like this not go off. We clipped their wings with that buoy passage. I'm disappointed," explains Pascal Bidégorry.
14:50 - 30 minute run
Boats that are too upwind suffer a little. The leading trio is made up of Charal, Corum l'Epargne and Initiatives-Coeur.
15h00 - Ranking at the passage of the clearance buoy
Nicolas Troussel (Corum l'Epargne) passed the clearing buoy first, followed by Charal and Initiatives-Coeur. The boats are starting to foil.
