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The Ultim lose two contenders for the title
A pecking order is beginning to emerge among the Ultim drivers, but not solely for sporting reasons. After the difficulties Anthony Marchand encountered on Monday on Actual Ultim 4 , Charles Caudrelier, in turn, must deal with significant damage.
The skipper of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild reported, early Tuesday, November 3, a problem with his port foil while sailing about 400 miles north of the Azores. The defending champion, who was in fourth place, resolved the situation with the help of his technical team. The extent of the damage and its impact on the remainder of his race remain to be determined.
For Anthony Marchand, the problem involves the center rudder of his trimaran. Damaged on Monday after striking an external object, the rudder requires repairs that cannot be performed alone at sea. The sailor has therefore set course for Ireland to reunite with his team and assess the damage.
Of the eight Ultim cars that started the race, two now see their chances of success seriously compromised, although no official withdrawal had been announced as of Tuesday morning.
Tom Laperche sets a fast pace
While his competitors are trying to resolve their technical issues, Tom Laperche continues to make progress aboard SVR-Lazartigue .
At the 7 a.m. check-in on Tuesday, the skipper was still in first place, about 55 miles ahead of Armel Le Cléac'h ( Banque Populaire XI ). Thomas Coville ( Sodebo Ultim 3 ) was trailing the leader by about 124 miles.
The speed of the leading trimaran speaks volumes about the crew's dedication: more than 770 miles covered in 24 hours, despite a change in weather conditions that required several maneuvers during the night.
The Ultim boats are now sailing in a strong northerly current, with choppy seas. At these speeds, every sail change or gybe requires meticulous preparation. Fatigue is also becoming a factor in the race.
The rest of the race could still change the gaps between the boats. In particular, the skippers will have to navigate through an anticyclonic ridge, with different options for maintaining wind and heading west.
Basile Bourgnon clocked at 43 knots
In the Ocean Fifty class, Basile Bourgnon is off to a particularly fast start in the transatlantic race on Edenred .
The young skipper reported a top speed of 43.1 knots, a remarkable speed for a 15-meter trimaran. As of Tuesday morning, he was several dozen miles ahead of his pursuers.
Thibaut Vauchel-Camus ( Solidaires en Peloton by Delanchy ) and Pierre Quiroga ( Wewise ) are still in the running, however. The three sailors still have to navigate through a weather transition zone that could either narrow or widen the gaps between them.
The ability to maintain high average speeds without damaging the boat will be crucial. On these lightweight multihulls, speed can change abruptly depending on gusts and sea conditions.
In the IMOCA class, five boats remain in contention
The competition is tighter in the IMOCA class. Corentin Horeau ( MACSF ) was in first place on Tuesday morning, ahead of Ambrogio Beccaria ( Allagrande Mapei ) and Sam Goodchild ( Macif ).
Élodie Bonafous ( Petits Princes Quéguiner Association ) and Jérémie Beyou ( Charal ) rounded out the leading group. The top five were within about 30 miles of the finish line.
However, these differences should be interpreted with caution. The competitors are not sailing exactly along the same routes, and their north-south positions differ. The passage of the weather front may therefore reshuffle the rankings.
A new technical problem also complicated Armel Tripon's race. The skipper of The Little Cuddly Toys reported a malfunction in one of its rudders. It was sailing at reduced speed, with the affected rudder raised, in order to assess the situation.
The Class40s are weighing their options between several routes
In the Class40 division, the gaps in the standings are even smaller. In this morning's update, Pierre Leboucher ( Imagine Institute ), Luca Rossetti ( Maccaferri Futura ) and Guillaume Pirouelle ( Sogestran-Seafrigo ) were practically neck and neck in terms of distance at the finish line.
But their trajectories tell a different story: more than 200 miles separate the northernmost and southernmost parts of the fleet.
Fabien Delahaye, one of the favorites in the category, has, however, announced that he is withdrawing. The skipper of LEGALLAIS injured his ankle on Tuesday morning, around 6 a.m., while lowering his spinnaker on the foredeck in 25-knot winds and very rough seas.
Suffering from severe pain and unable to put weight on his foot, he consulted the race doctor. The forecast low-pressure system in the Azores region and the maneuvers it might require played a major role in his decision to withdraw from his first Route du Rhum.
Delahaye is not requesting assistance and is heading toward La Coruña, Spain, located approximately 350 miles from his position at the time of the announcement. He estimates he will be able to reach the port within 36 to 48 hours to undergo medical examinations there.
Francis Joyon Rescued After His Boat Capsized
Beyond the standings, the first 48 hours were marked by several serious incidents.
Francis Joyon, competing in the Vintage Multi class aboard his ORMA trimaran Oceans , capsized on Monday. The sailor was rescued safe and sound by the container ship Maersk Columbus , which was supposed to take him to Ireland.
In the Class40 category, Quentin Le Nabour also lost his mast while he was among the leaders in his class. The skipper was not injured.
The collision that occurred shortly after the start between Violette Dorange?s IMOCA and Romain Pilliard?s multihull also resulted in significant damage. Both sailors had to halt their progress to have their boats inspected. Violette will head to Lorient for repairs, while Romain will attempt to make repairs in Roscoff.
