Transat 6.50 – Oceano Atlantico – E’ alla fine del concerto che si pagano i musicisti. Una massima facilmente applicabile anche al mondo delle regate oceaniche, specie quando queste devono attraversare i famigerati Doldrum. La flotta protagonista della Transat 6.50 è infatti alle prese con le calme equatoriali e la classifica si rimescola ad ogni aggiornamento. Ancora non si capisce chi, nell’avvicinarsi alla zona di vento leggero, ha fatto la scelta giusta. Per il momento pare aver pagato la scelta di Francisco Lobato.
Il vincitore della prima frazione, per questo leader tra gli scafi di Serie, è arrivato da ovest, ma nelle ultime ore si è fermato anche lui. Il suo vantaggio su Riccardo Apolloni, ottimo secondo sin dalle battute iniziali, è davvero risicato: non arriva alle 5 miglia. Tra l’altro, l’italiano è più vicino alla rotta ideale e mentre Lobato, seppur veloce, naviga verso sudest, lo skipper di Ma Vie Pour Mapei ha la prua verso il traguardo di Bahia, distante ancora più di 1300 miglia. Dalla lotta non sono esclusi gli altri: Charlie Dalin, infatti, è a meno di 8 miglia dal battistrada.
Situazione più o meno analoga tra i Prototipi, localizzati circa 200 miglia più avanti e tutti, o quasi, a est della rotta ideale. A guidare la classifica è Thomas Ruyant, ma Henry Paul Shipman lo segue a vista, al pari di Matt Trautman.
Transat 6.50, 2nd leg
Prototypes
1. Thomas Ruyant, DTF 1.137 nm
2. Henry Paul Schipman, +3.64 nm
3. Matt Trautman, +5.39 nm
Serie:
1. Francisco Lobato, DTF 1.355 nm
2. Ricardo Apolloni, +4.2 nm
3. Charlie Dalin, +9.67 nm
STILL SOME HOURS OF SUFFERING IN THE DOLDRUMS
[Transat 6.50 Press Release] As the saying goes: “It’s in the end of the concert that we pay the musicians”. We will therefore know who was right or wrong once the Doldrums crossed. Right or wrong, to sail in the West as Francisco Lobato: new leader for series, as the South African Matt Trautman 3rd at 3.00 pm or as Remi Auburn the extreme. Right or wrong for making the East as most competitors, including HP Schipman and Bertrand Delesne which remain a few miles from Thomas Ruyant, 1st at 3.00 pm. How to know with certainty today, where is the truth? One thing is certain: they are all stuck in this natural trap.
Then, is it stickier on the right or left side? They all have one thing in mind, get out as quickly as possible while trying to get their mini some south. Last night had been particularly difficult. One of the escort boats, the 60 feet Max Havelaar, explained: ” There was very few wind with showers. The night was restless; the storms have succeeded each other without interruption like in a real nightclub! But the gusts did not exceed 30 knots”.
That same Max Havelaar said at midday: “It has calmed down! It was not madness”.
Long live the Doldrums!
First out, first served
Still, all the skippers have to fight every moment between clouds and showers, trying to find the slightest breeze, the smallest puff of air. Tack again and again. Being on the bridge almost 24 hours a day. Stay focused until exhaustion. Perhaps because they overslept a little, Nicolas Boidevezi and Olivier Avram lost several miles. The leaders still have a day with hard times before they will finally find a little wind. A southeast flow. Who will find Aeolus first and will breath a little, will rest… Only a few hours make the difference between a boat sailing at 5-6 knots and one sailing at 1,5 to 2 knot.
The Portuguese once again…
Then, Lobato winner for series? This is not for sure. He has certainly more pressure at the moment even if his speed shows that he is “fully in” the Doldrums too. And then southern flow should (we insist on ”should”) arrive at those in the east first. And even if he succeed, nevertheless, to leave this accursed spot more quickly than others, Francisco will have to beat very tightly to Fernando do Noronha. In short, at this point, rankings are not very worthy as it has changed several times today, with Charlie Dalin at first, then Ricardo Apolloni at 11.00 and now Francisco Lobato… Nothing is ever finished!
All at Sea…
However, we are now happy. All the sailors who stopped at the Cape Verde islands, have returned to sea, they are all back in the race. They are therefore all “appreciating” the Doldrums. Some came on this transatlantic almost solely to entertain, to discover, to experience what they read in books. They will not regret it…
Transat 6.50, 2nd leg
Prototypes
1. Thomas Ruyant, DTF 1.137 nm
2. Henry-Paul Schipman, +3.64 nm
3. Matt Trautman, +5.39 nm
Serie:
1. Francisco Lobato, DTF 1.355 nm
2. Ricardo Apolloni, +4.2 nm
3. Charlie Dalin, +9.67 nm
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