The hoped-for grandstand finish in Martinique is beginning to look likely as Ultimes and Ocean Fifties begin their approaches to the line in the Transat Jacques Vabre. The IMOCA leaders continue their high-speed cat-and-mouse chase while for the Class 40s it’s decision time.
Class 40 – decisions, decisions
Most of the Class 40 fleet are at the Cape Verde islands but none have yet committed to the right turn to the west to Martinique. The leaders are travelling further south to find the ideal route.
“We are playing with the small variations in the wind,” said Axel Trehin, co-skipper of seventh-placed Project Rescue Ocean. “Yesterday was a busy day with Cape Verde to get around with plenty of complicated breezes. We finally managed to get out and find a more established wind last night. It was annoying to have to head south.”
The trade winds seem to be more established to the south, so there are two choices: west with less win but a shorter route, or south with more wind but a longer route.
IMOCA – a sprint to the finish
Led by LinkedOut, who passed the waypoint at Fernando de Noronha first, the leading three boats are skirting the northeast of Brazil. Just 3.5 hours separates the leader from third placed Charal. Charlie Dalin and Paul Meilhat are the boat in between.
It’s a 250-mile separation back to Arkéa-Paprec and Britain’s Sam Davies on Initiatives-Cœur who are involved in a fascinating battle for fourth place.
Davies, who was expected to reach Fernando de Noronha this evening (Saturday 20 November), is enjoying the tussle: “We are happy to be in the trade winds to the south, we are going fast! The current and the weather have been complicated. We had to do a lot of gybing so it was quite sporty, but we’re used to that after the Canaries and Cape Verde.
“We’re looking forward to seeing the Martinique coast, but for now we’re living in the moment.”
Ocean Fifty – gybe fest
With 1,000 nautical miles to the finish line in Martinique, the leading Ocean Fifty multis are closing in on the Ultimes, who are completing a longer course. The leaders of the two classes are just 400 miles apart so in about 36 hours we should see a grandstand sprint to the line between the fastest boats in the race.
Meanwhile, the Ocean Fifty crews are facing a tough gybing routine in the strong 20-25-knot trade winds, a race mode that allows for very little sleep.
Sam Goodchild (GBR) and Aymeric Chappellier have been working hard to keep their high speeds consistent: “We have been a bit busy gybing, like with an hour between each gybe we were trying to catch up on rest as much as we can so we only have been getting 45 minutes each maximum rest. We have been struggling a little bit for speed compared to Koesio which is kind of forcing us to keep trying new things and we are discovering new things, little by little.”
Ultimes – freeway sailing
Still led by Franck Cammas and Charles Caudrelier on Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, the Ultimes will experience a similar sailing mode to the Ocean Fifty trimarans. The gybes will follow one another for half a day until the easterly changeover, where they will be able to reduce the manoeuvres and finish in a straight sprint towards the finish.
Banque Populaire XI in second is keeping a close eye on fourth placed SVR-Lazartigue who are only 50 miles further back. Armel Le Cléac’h and Kevin Escoffier confirm the wind is expected to strengthen from behind: “We’re watching François and Tom more, so that they don't take miles away from us.”
The finish is getting closer, with an ETA scheduled for this Tuesday evening 23 November (UTC).
RANKINGS NOVEMBER 20 at 10:00am
CLASS40
- Redman - Distance to destination 2041,75
- Guidi - Distance to destination 2066,32
- Croatia Full of Life - Distance to destination 2090,74
OCEAN FIFTY
- Primonial - Distance to destination 1085,41
- Koesio - Distance to destination 1119,41
- Leyton - Distance to destination 1147,16
IMOCA
- LinkedOut - Distance to destination 1863,47
- Apivia - Distance to destination 1890,34
- Charal - Distance to destination 1927,45
ULTIME
- Maxi Edmond de Rothschild - Distance to destination 1431,19
- Banque Populaire XI - Distance to destination 1798,71
- SVR - Lazartigue - Distance to destination 1857,33
Current ETA in Martinique:
- Ultime : Maxi Edmond de Rothschild 23 November at 11:00pm UTC
- Ocean Fifty : Primonial 24th November at 02:00am UTC
- IMOCA : LinkedOut 25th November at 05:00pm UTC
- Class40 : Redman 30th November at 08:00pm UTC
