Transat Jacques Vabre, tactical first night

Video courtesy Transat Jacques Vabre.

Le Havre – As the 44 duos sail into their first night at sea on this 11th Transat Jacques Vabre the MOD70 duo remain in close contact although Sébastien Josse and Charles Caudrelier on Edmond de Rothschild have held the lead since the first and only passing mark and on the 1900hrs UTC were still holding a small speed advantage in the light to moderate conditions. During the summer’s Route des Princes race around Europe, Josse’s crew sometimes had an edge in moderate breezes. With he leading pair of one design multihulls attacking the Cherbourg peninsula in the final hours of the flood tide (HW Cherbourg 2321hrs CET), Edmond de Rothschild’s lead was just over three miles.

Michel Desjoyeaux and François Gabart on Macif laid down the early marker in the IMOCA Open 60 class, also leading from the first passing mark, but they have lost out to Jéremie Beyou and Christopher Pratt on Maitre Coq on the tactical beat. Macif stayed further inshore and appears to have lost out, Beyou and Pratt tacking on the line of Macif as they head offshore with a lead of less than half a mile. In the murky, drizzly conditions keeping Macif directly behind makes sense, rather than separating away.

In the Multi50 Class it is FenetreA-Cardinal which has prospered, closer to the peninsula, with a margin of some two miles over Actual.

Erwan le Roux reported earlier: “It is safe in the Bay of Seine with 10-11 knots of wind, the sea has calmed down and it feels good. We are back with the guys and we are tight with Actual and Arkema. Now we arrive at Barfleur, it is slowing down because the current is strong here.”

The Class 40’s are very much in sprint mode heading to Roscoff. On the 1900hrs ranking there was nothing separating SNCF Geodis from ERDF Des Pieds et des Mains although further offshore, the Damien Seguin and Yoanne Richomme were sailing slightly quicker. Showing well early on Spain’s Alex Pella and Pablo Santurde lay in sixth, about 0.8 miles from the leaders, but nicely placed in the peloton. Brian Thompson and Mike Gascoyne on Caterham Challenge were making a more direct course, further offshore in eighth.

To follow the race on tracker click here.

Related post

Transat Jacques Vabre, the start is set for tomorrow Transat Jacques Vabre, the village is open and the prologue completed Avantime ORC European Championship, two offshore races completed Route des Princes, oggi il via dell’ultima tappa