It was Kito de Pavant (FRA) and Sebastien Audigane (FRA) on the red hulled Groupe Bel who put their battle to be race ready on time behind them and broke away from the 1300hrs start gun best, building speed in a light NNE’ly breeze, which could never quite muster double figures.
© Jorge Andreu / Barcelona World Race
Charismatic, pocket sized De Pavant, who hails from Montferrier some 300 miles east along the coast and knows the Mediterranean waters well, together with his tall, reserved but vastly experienced Breton counterpart, Audigane, led Michel Desjoyeaux (FRA) and François Gabart (FRA) – the Foncia master and his apprentice – up the short three-mile reaching leg.
At the one turning mark off the Besòs river Groupe Bel were over one minute and 13 seconds ahead of Foncia before working back downwind parallel to the Barceloneta beach and disappearing off into the hazy, slightly grey afternoon, heading for the next 530 taxing miles to Gibraltar and the gateway into the Atlantic.
Only time will tell how long Groupe Bel can lead the fleet, but their first few miles were a welcome reward to the team which ran tight to the deadline to be here. In fact they were last to arrive in Barcelona at the very end of a frenetic schedule to have their IMOCA Open 60 ready after having to replace parts of the keel head mechanism, which failed seven weeks ago to force De Pavant’s retirement from the Route du Rhum transatlantic race.
Third around were the two GAES girls, Dee Caffari (GBR) and Anna Corbella (ESP), who led a sprightly looking FMC, the rejuvenated 10 years old veteran former Kingfisher in the hands of young Catalan Gerard Marín and his French co-skipper Ludo Aglaor, who had made an excellent start at the offshore end of the line and looked quietly relaxed and smooth around the opening miles.
The sun made one or two fleeting appearances, adding lustre and sparkle to the waters for a huge spectator fleet of some 450 boats, from tiny pocket cruisers to the laden, large sponsors’ launches. And the beaches from the iconic Hotel W start line all the way up to the turning mark were busy as thousands turned out to enjoy the spirited opening tussle.
The departure from the Moll Barcelona World RACE’s Race Fleet Dock was enriched by the full spectrum of emotions. From the scarcely contained happiness of the likes of Caffari and the Central Lechera Asturiana duo Juan Merediz (ESP) and Fran Palacio (ESP) - who bounced in unison on the deck of the yacht which they had struggled for the last four weeks to step a replacement rig after they broke their mast on their delivery passage - through to the heart-tugging private family hugs and kisses. But the farewells were quickly behind them and the serious business of the Barcelona World RACE takes over.
A tricky passage down to the Alboran Sea and Straits of Gibraltar seems to be promised by the meteo specialists. Light winds with several transition belts, where the wind will all but disappear for the leaders to be replaced in time by new breezes, will test the skills and patience of the duos.
Jean-Pierre Dicknotified the Race Direction that he wished to file a protest, specifying that: “Groupe Bel , Foncia and Hugo Boss that have not passed November Mark to starboard as stated in the Rider 1 of the sailing instruction.”The matter passes to the International Jury.
The November mark is specified as a mark off the north entrance to the Barcelona Harbour which was set as a mark of the specified Course No 1, keeping the fleet more offshore of the main harbour entrance channel.
On the first official rankings of the race , at 1600hrs UCT (1700hrs Barcelona), De Pavant and Audigane lead by 0.7 of a mile ahead of Jean Le Cam (FRA) and Bruno Garcia (ESP) on Président who were close with third placed Virbac-Paprec 3 of Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA) and Loïck Peyron (FRA).
Weather synopsis in short…
The light and tricky conditions experienced at the start are likely to continue throughout the first night with variable conditions forecast Saturday before the skippers reach improved winds by Sunday or Monday.
A low pressure zone is expected to develop across the Mediterranean this weekend, making for a slow exit from the Med for the Barcelona World RACE fleet.
Friday afternoon’s light north-north-easterlies are expected to become more westerly as the fleet head out of the Gulf Of Valencia and enter the Alboran Sea.
By Sunday a tricky transition zone is showing with an area of calm weather in the middle of the Alboran Sea for the skippers to negotiate, before reaching 10-15 knot westerly breezes off the coast of Morocco.
Quotes:
Kito De Pavant (FRA) Groupe Bel:“There was not much wind, but it stopped raining. We made a great start, making the perfect choice of sails, the boat was going well and we started a good battle with Michel Desjoyeaux. It’s great like that. I just hope that the wind does not drop away too much as we get away from Barcelona. It is a great start seen from Groupe Bel. I hope we can go to tell you a great story over the next three months around the planet. Now we must push on a bit because there is work to do.”
Michel Desjoyeaux (FRA), Foncia:“They were nice to us, they got us a typical Breton drizzle! It will be light throughout the early part of course, at least as far as Gibraltar and perhaps even to the Canary Islands. Francois has been watching this. It's pretty changeable. We will need to be reactive and we are well prepared for that.”
Francois Gabart (FRA), Foncia:“It will not be easy to get away, but there will be a little wind over the course of the day. But it will be quite erratic, unstable and difficult to exit the Mediterranean at least.”
Dee Caffari (GBR), GAES Centros Auditivos:“I’m really excited, I want to go sailing! It feels like it’s been a long time coming, I don’t know why but the preparation feels a bit longer, probably because there’s been Christmas in the middle. It’s typical British weather to make me feel comfortable, but hopefully we’ll be sailing and can get away from this.”
“There’s a real buzz, it’s brilliant. It’s really nice and all the skippers are supporting each other and wishing us all the best, there’s a good feeling here. There’s a lot more frivolity here than I’ve felt before in races. I feel more relaxed, which is kind of new for me! It’s a good sign I think because obviously Anna’s the one who’s going into what she doesn’t know, and I do know what to expect and I’ve never been in that position before.”
“The first 24 hours are going to be really tough. The Med is delivering typical. “Mediterranean weather, where we’re not quite sure, we’re not 100 per cent on the models and we’re just going to have to work really hard on keeping the boat going. The boats are going to be really close which is going to be really exciting for everyone to watch, but it’s going to be quite stressful for us.”
“It’s Anna’s back garden so I’m in her control. We just need to focus on going fast and obviously keep an eye on where everyone is.”
Wouter Verbraak (NED), Hugo Boss:“I’m really relieved that the struggle of the last few days is behind us and we can now focus on the race, but it’s a day of mixed feelings. Like every start you’re excited to go, but it’s hard to say good-bye to the family. So Alex, if you’re listening get better!
“We’ll do our very, very best, the boat is very well prepared, the team is very good, and I’m impressed with the level of preparation.”
“This is a race about keeping the boat together. So we’ve focused a lot on going through systems, going through manoevures with Andy, talking about philosophy. But the good thing is I’ve known Andy for a long time, both personally and in racing, and we’re on the same page. We’ve raced together in the Volvo Ocean Race and several Maxi programmes, so we go way back. It’s all about trust and partnership, and we have complimentary skills.”
Boris Hermann (GER) Neutrogena:“It’s a pleasure to have so many people to say goodbye to – lots of friends, preparateurs, our sailing family and also our normal family, it’s a nice moment.”
“These 10 minutes are fine, but then we leave and I think I get more nervous when we’re on the water. I think the last hour before the start will be the most exciting – to decide which side of the line is the right choice and that kind of stuff.
“It looks like it will be a bit of reaching and then medium conditions, difficult conditions with not much of a consistent wind pattern. To get out of the Med will be quite a little challenge. I would rather leave from Cape St Vincent straight into a nice trade wind!.... but the rain doesn’t bother me at all!”
From Barcelona World Race
