The Ocean Fifty first
While Ultims are the fastest sailing boats in ocean racing (we are talking about offshore sailing and not regattas between 3 buoys), it was nevertheless an Ocean Fifty that crossed the finish line of the Jacques Vabre in Martinique first. This can be explained by the difference in course between the two classes of trimarans. The Ultims, despite an average speed of 6.5 knots, had more miles to cover.
Primonial euros led by Sébastien Rogues and Matthieu Souben euros reached the Caribbean island on Monday night, November 23, 2021, at 2 hours 54 minutes and 14 seconds (mainland time). In total, they will have taken 15 days 13 hours 27 minutes and 14 seconds to cover the 5,800 theoretical miles of their course (the same as the IMOCA boats, which still have more than 550 miles ahead of them) at a speed of 17.50 knots, actually covering 6,536.56 miles.
The duo always sailed at the head of the fleet, initially a few miles behind Koesio (Erwan Le Roux/Xavier Macaire), who led in Ocean Fifty throughout the early part of the race. Eventually, Primonial took first place after negotiating the Canary Islands from the west. After being caught in the doldrums, but never overtaken, they took the win. After a 3 e place in the race two years ago, the duo climbed to the top of the podium on Primonial, the winning boat in the last Route du Rhum.
Sébastien Rogues: "We're happy with the effort that was put in, we gave it our all, and didn't keep anything, and it paid off. It's great. Spending 15 days on the boat with Matthieu has been a pleasure. We have exactly the same conception of navigation, we are always in phase on the way to use a boat, on the rhythm, the tempo. The difference was made in many places, we needed to be rigorous. We arrive with a boat that has not suffered any breakage, nothing. Maybe we lost the pen cap, but that's about it. These are rare moments in a lifetime. We're going to enjoy it, savor it."
Franck Cammas and Charles Caudrelier, unchallenged in Ultim
Ultra-favorites, Franck Cammas and Charles Caudrelier win their Ultim category in the Transat Jacques Vabre. The Maxi Edmond de Rothschild crossed the finish line this Tuesday 23rd November 2021 at 15 h 16 minutes and 16 seconds (metropolitan time). In total, the duo will have taken 16 days 1 hour 49 minutes and 16 seconds to cover the 7,500 theoretical miles of their course at an average speed of 24.01 knots and actually covering 9,262.13 miles.
Practically at the head of the fleet throughout the race, the duo took advantage of the Portuguese trade winds to head south and keep their 4 other competitors at bay.
Franck Cammas: " We didn't make many mistakes, the boat behaved well. 17 days of hard racing and we arrive with a boat at 100% of its means. Compared to the competition, we didn't know how it would turn out, and our confidence has grown day by day. Yesterday we had a bit of stress, with a complicated weather situation for us. We fell into a windless zone and behind them they were able to gain 200 miles in 12 hours so we started to get scared. Finally they had the same problem as us much later.
The main thing for me is to always have one more victory than Charles! [Laughs; Franck now has 4 victories, Charles 3, in the Transat Jacques Vabre, editor's note] It's true that it's a race that suits us well. It's easy because it's been well managed, well prepared, well routed, and we'll have to find all those elements again at each new race start."
