The seven Europa Warm’Up skippers left Cascais, Lisbon today at 1600h local time, setting course on their IMOCA Open 60’s for the open Atlantic ocean, ready to tackle the second of the two stage race, a 2.300 miles long passage which they know will be their the final racing test before November’s Vendée Globe.
There was a distinctly upbeat, almost excitable atmosphere among the seven skippers about to leave, to return to their foundation discipline of solo sailing, to the last battle between some of the world’s best sailors before the start of the Vendée Globe. Their happiness was mixed with the expectation, looking forwards to getting their teeth into a course which promises a range of conditions and opportunities. And if the weather forecast proves true, the sailors will have a lot on their plate over the coming days.
The gun was fired at 1600h exactly. Just as there were those who jumped the gun in Barcelona, here again two boats were over the line and received an individual recall from the Race Committee. Both MACIF and Virbac-Paprec 3 took the penalty while Banque Populaire and Groupe Bel got the best start. The fleet waved goodbye to Portugal in ideal conditions, with 14-15 knots NW’ly breeze a flat sea and bright sunshine, their bows pointed for the Azores towards the island of Santa Maria which we be the first mark to be left to starboard, some 750 miles away.
A first choice?
Right now the fleet is pleasantly sailing away, reaching at 15 plus knots, but over the next 24 hours the sailors will have to face their first challenge, as the Azores high creates an area of very light winds that will have to be carefully dealt with. North of it, the transition zone extends over a smaller area and the risk of being slowed down looks smaller too. But, after it, the fleet will encounter steadier south-westerlies. As a result those who will decide to pass the Azores High from the North could be faster but will be worse positioned to get into the new breeze. By going South, at the back of the system, the angle could be wider to head to Santa Maria, but it’s a risky move as one could be trapped in the light wind area.
Offshore again
After Santa Maria, skippers hopefully will be fast reaching to the Fastnet Rock, in a wind that is expected to increase gradually as the boats near the south-west tip of Ireland. No better opportunity to get back in full offshore mode, feeling the excitement to come, when they will be sailing in the Southern Oceans, no better chance to put their ability to the test against some of the finest competitors and the fastest boats on the planet.
They said :
Vincent Riou (PRB):“We’re getting into things, this is what we are here for. Plus conditions are very nice for the start, sun, warm weather, good breeze but not too much… if one is not happy to start with that, he will never be. It’s been nearly a month that we have been sailing upwind, on the delivery to Barcelona and the first leg, so we are happy to hear that there will be some reaching between the Azores and the Fastnet. The course is full of traps, we need to be good since the beginning. The dices could be thrown very early.”
François Gabart (MACIF):“I don’t regret having sailed fully crewed on the first leg, it was really nice and we learned a lot, but it’s sure that the second solo one it’s what we are looking for to get ready for the Vendée Globe. We all wish to have some good reaching, but we have to reach the Azores first with a ridge to deal with. Fingers crossed that the weather forecast stays like that, because then we would find pleasant sailing conditions, train well for the Vendée Globe and get to La Rochelle faster.”
Kito de Pavant (Groupe Bel):“There is going to be a mixed bag of wind conditions. One could loose passing the ridge but later we should have good breeze, medium up to the Azores, and very nice sailing. Further on and if everything goes to plan, a long reaching tack to the Fastnet which should be pleasant. With this line-up you need to give all you have. I’m ready…”
Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac-Paprec 3):“We expect perfect conditions for solo racing. The Atlantic course is interesting, with conditions that could be testing. In any case, if it’s going to be windy, it’ll be a better training for Vendée Globe. We’ll be back offshore, dolphins, killer whales, in a word the ocean at his best.”
Javier Sanso (ACCIONA 100% EcoPowered):“We had to solve some small issues with the transmission and the auto-pilots, but everything is ok now. It was a bit stressful, the crew couldn’t really rest, but we are ready now. I’m very happy to be back solo, I will have the chance to test against the others…”
Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat):“It will be my first single-handed race with the new boat. The weather forecast is good, with some crucial turning points. It will be a good trial, to see how we can push the boats, not bad really. I would love to have some reaching between the Azores and the Fastnet, but we’re not there already… if the system is going to move one way or the other, the course could change quickly.”
From : Europa Warm'Up
Credit : J.Vapillon
There was a distinctly upbeat, almost excitable atmosphere among the seven skippers about to leave, to return to their foundation discipline of solo sailing, to the last battle between some of the world’s best sailors before the start of the Vendée Globe. Their happiness was mixed with the expectation, looking forwards to getting their teeth into a course which promises a range of conditions and opportunities. And if the weather forecast proves true, the sailors will have a lot on their plate over the coming days.
The gun was fired at 1600h exactly. Just as there were those who jumped the gun in Barcelona, here again two boats were over the line and received an individual recall from the Race Committee. Both MACIF and Virbac-Paprec 3 took the penalty while Banque Populaire and Groupe Bel got the best start. The fleet waved goodbye to Portugal in ideal conditions, with 14-15 knots NW’ly breeze a flat sea and bright sunshine, their bows pointed for the Azores towards the island of Santa Maria which we be the first mark to be left to starboard, some 750 miles away.
A first choice?
Right now the fleet is pleasantly sailing away, reaching at 15 plus knots, but over the next 24 hours the sailors will have to face their first challenge, as the Azores high creates an area of very light winds that will have to be carefully dealt with. North of it, the transition zone extends over a smaller area and the risk of being slowed down looks smaller too. But, after it, the fleet will encounter steadier south-westerlies. As a result those who will decide to pass the Azores High from the North could be faster but will be worse positioned to get into the new breeze. By going South, at the back of the system, the angle could be wider to head to Santa Maria, but it’s a risky move as one could be trapped in the light wind area.
Offshore again
After Santa Maria, skippers hopefully will be fast reaching to the Fastnet Rock, in a wind that is expected to increase gradually as the boats near the south-west tip of Ireland. No better opportunity to get back in full offshore mode, feeling the excitement to come, when they will be sailing in the Southern Oceans, no better chance to put their ability to the test against some of the finest competitors and the fastest boats on the planet.
They said :
Vincent Riou (PRB):“We’re getting into things, this is what we are here for. Plus conditions are very nice for the start, sun, warm weather, good breeze but not too much… if one is not happy to start with that, he will never be. It’s been nearly a month that we have been sailing upwind, on the delivery to Barcelona and the first leg, so we are happy to hear that there will be some reaching between the Azores and the Fastnet. The course is full of traps, we need to be good since the beginning. The dices could be thrown very early.”
François Gabart (MACIF):“I don’t regret having sailed fully crewed on the first leg, it was really nice and we learned a lot, but it’s sure that the second solo one it’s what we are looking for to get ready for the Vendée Globe. We all wish to have some good reaching, but we have to reach the Azores first with a ridge to deal with. Fingers crossed that the weather forecast stays like that, because then we would find pleasant sailing conditions, train well for the Vendée Globe and get to La Rochelle faster.”
Kito de Pavant (Groupe Bel):“There is going to be a mixed bag of wind conditions. One could loose passing the ridge but later we should have good breeze, medium up to the Azores, and very nice sailing. Further on and if everything goes to plan, a long reaching tack to the Fastnet which should be pleasant. With this line-up you need to give all you have. I’m ready…”
Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac-Paprec 3):“We expect perfect conditions for solo racing. The Atlantic course is interesting, with conditions that could be testing. In any case, if it’s going to be windy, it’ll be a better training for Vendée Globe. We’ll be back offshore, dolphins, killer whales, in a word the ocean at his best.”
Javier Sanso (ACCIONA 100% EcoPowered):“We had to solve some small issues with the transmission and the auto-pilots, but everything is ok now. It was a bit stressful, the crew couldn’t really rest, but we are ready now. I’m very happy to be back solo, I will have the chance to test against the others…”
Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat):“It will be my first single-handed race with the new boat. The weather forecast is good, with some crucial turning points. It will be a good trial, to see how we can push the boats, not bad really. I would love to have some reaching between the Azores and the Fastnet, but we’re not there already… if the system is going to move one way or the other, the course could change quickly.”
From : Europa Warm'Up
