Undisputed leadership
After winning the first leg of the Transat Jacques Vabre, Thibaut Vauchel-Camus and Quentin Vlamynck on Ocean Fifty Solidaires en Peloton win the race. Arriving in Martinique on November 17, 2023, at 1:07 a.m. Paris time, they covered 5432 miles at an average speed of 19.73 knots, clocking a race time of 11 days, 11 hours, 22 minutes and 27 seconds. This is the second transatlantic victory for Thibaut Vauchel-Camus, after winning The Transat 2016 in Class40, and a first for young Quentin Vlamynck aboard Un Ocean Fifty.
Right from the start of the second leg, the two sailors were able to steer their boats perfectly, despite the storms. As a reminder, of the six starters, three were forced to retire: Koesio, Primonial and Le Rire Medecin Lamotte. The only boats left in the race were the winners and Fabrice Cahierc and Aymeric Chappellier's Realités, which came second, followed by Pierre Quiroga and Ronan Treussart's Viabilis Ocean, third. Solidaires En Peloton almost never relinquished the lead, perfectly negotiating the passage of a large ridge of high pressure to the north of Madeira. Réalités, which was recently launched, also showed good speed.
The words of Thibaut Vauchel-Camus
Thibaut Vauchel Camus explains: " It's something I've been looking for for a few years, this great Transat victory. It's finally achieving something quite incredible. Winning a multihull transatlantic race is no mean feat. We've adapted well to these two stages. In our sport, we spend our time doing things that aren't planned and not doing things that are. One year after my capsize in the Route du Rhum, I'm delighted to be able to offer this first place to the 120,000 Multiple Sclerosis patients and my partners. Quentin and I were very much in sync throughout this leg between Lorient and Fort-de-France, making the right choices and being well guided by our routers."
