A Figaro-style race to kick off the Transat Jacques Vabre
In anticipation of storm Ciaran, the organizers of the Transat Jacques Vabre had to make last-minute adjustments to the course of the double-handed transatlantic race. While the Ultims, fast enough to avoid the bulk of the low-pressure system, set off as planned on their course and have already reached the latitude of Lisbon, the Class40s and Ocean Fifties headed for Lorient for a first leg, while the IMOCAs remained in Le Havre, as they could not be accommodated at the same time as the other boats in the Breton port or another in the area.
Tough conditions
Despite the limited length of the course, the fleet was not spared. Right from the start, the tack to the Le Havre show buoy in over 30 knots gave rise to a few collisions, resulting in damage to several Class40s, forcing Movember to retire and others to consider major repairs, such as Seafrigo with a hole in the bow.
The first night was marked by the dismasting of one of the favorite duos, Ian Lipinski and Antoine Carpentier, aboard the scow Crédit Mutuel, while William Mathelin-Moreaux and Pietro Luciani's Class40 Dekuple hit a UFO creating damage to the bottom of the hull.
Two intermediate podiums for the Jacques Vabre
After less than 48 hours of racing, all the competitors have reached Lorient.
In the Ocean Fifty, sharp duo Thibaut Vauchel Camus and Quentin Vlamynck won the first leg in 20 hours 44 minutes, followed by Luke Berry and Antoine Joubert on Rire Médecin and Sébastien Rogues and Jean-Baptiste Gellée on Primonial. Experienced sailor Erwan Le Roux's account of the sailing conditions confirms the commitment of these 50-foot trimarans to sailing in such seas.
In Class40, the great favorite Ambrogio Beccaria and his co-skipper Nicolas Andrieu on Alla Grande Pirelli asserted their status by finishing 1 hour 15 minutes ahead of Xavier Macaire and Pierre Leboucher aboard Groupe SNEF, in 1 day 10 hours and 5 minutes. The podium is completed by Matthieu Perraut and Kevin Bloch on Inter Invest.
