Armel Le Cléac’h and his crew on Banque Populaire closely followed by Bernard Stamm and team on Cheminées Poujoulat kept their cool to lead the Europa Warm’Up IMOCA Open 60 fleet away from Barcelona as the first leg out of the Mediterranean to Cascais, Lisbon got away to a ragged start at 1600hrs this Saturday afternoon.
While the remaining five of the seven boat fleet all had to re-cross the line after jumping the line before the start gun, Banque Populaire and Cheminées Poujoulat, were able to retain the early advantage, but the questions occupying the minds of all seven teams were primarily how to deal with the first night at sea and then how to best use the strong westerly winds which are expected to produce a tough 48 hours for the fleet.
The urgency on the start line was already reflected by the skippers and crews during the morning’s the departure from the pontoons. The high level of focus was evident across all the teams. Smiles were broad and warm, but clearly the race faces were already on as the tightly matched fleet set sail. All the talk of equipment validation, testing and warm ups, evaporates quickly. This is a key race, an indicator of form and no one will be giving small percentages away.
The frenetic start was immediate evidence of how the fleet will push the limits. Seeking to gain even a few seconds on the line, it was only Banque Populaire and Cheminées Poujoulat who emerged with their starting strategy intact and they were able to establish an early advantage – not just on the water but in the psychological warfare that this 800 miles leg to Cascais will undoubtedly prove to be.
After the last passing mark where the open ocean beckoned the fleet split into two, MACIF, Groupe Bel, Virbac-Paprec 3 and ACCIONA 100% EcoPowered elected to stay with the coast, while that leading duo along with PRB chose to stay on the offshore track. The strategic battle is well under way
Ranking at 18h
1. Armel Le Cléac’h - Banque Populaire
2. Bernard Stamm - Cheminées Poujoulat
3. François Gabart - MACIF
4. Kito de Pavant - Groupe Bel
5. Jean-Pierre Dick - Virbac-Paprec 3
6. Vincent Riou - PRB
7. Javier Sanso - ACCIONA 100% EcoPowered
They said:
Michel Desjoyeaux (crew on MACIF) :
"We were here 18 months ago with Francois on a boat almost exactly the same, starting from Barcelona. Here I am and this time I am not in charge, so we are bound to have a good time. François is very highly motivated, he learns fast and works extremely hard.”
Roland Jourdain (crew on Virbac-Paprec 3) :
"It's not bad this having crew status, certainly you sail with a lot less pressure. Also, I am delighted to join the team for this. The fact is that we have often been rivals on the water in races like the Vendee Globe, Barcelona World Race and the Route du Rhum and now we are together on board. Friendships were formed before, but now it is an opportunity to cement them. "
From : Europa Warm'Up
Credit : AlfredFarré.com / FNOB
While the remaining five of the seven boat fleet all had to re-cross the line after jumping the line before the start gun, Banque Populaire and Cheminées Poujoulat, were able to retain the early advantage, but the questions occupying the minds of all seven teams were primarily how to deal with the first night at sea and then how to best use the strong westerly winds which are expected to produce a tough 48 hours for the fleet.
The urgency on the start line was already reflected by the skippers and crews during the morning’s the departure from the pontoons. The high level of focus was evident across all the teams. Smiles were broad and warm, but clearly the race faces were already on as the tightly matched fleet set sail. All the talk of equipment validation, testing and warm ups, evaporates quickly. This is a key race, an indicator of form and no one will be giving small percentages away.
The frenetic start was immediate evidence of how the fleet will push the limits. Seeking to gain even a few seconds on the line, it was only Banque Populaire and Cheminées Poujoulat who emerged with their starting strategy intact and they were able to establish an early advantage – not just on the water but in the psychological warfare that this 800 miles leg to Cascais will undoubtedly prove to be.
After the last passing mark where the open ocean beckoned the fleet split into two, MACIF, Groupe Bel, Virbac-Paprec 3 and ACCIONA 100% EcoPowered elected to stay with the coast, while that leading duo along with PRB chose to stay on the offshore track. The strategic battle is well under way
Ranking at 18h
1. Armel Le Cléac’h - Banque Populaire
2. Bernard Stamm - Cheminées Poujoulat
3. François Gabart - MACIF
4. Kito de Pavant - Groupe Bel
5. Jean-Pierre Dick - Virbac-Paprec 3
6. Vincent Riou - PRB
7. Javier Sanso - ACCIONA 100% EcoPowered
They said:
Michel Desjoyeaux (crew on MACIF) :
"We were here 18 months ago with Francois on a boat almost exactly the same, starting from Barcelona. Here I am and this time I am not in charge, so we are bound to have a good time. François is very highly motivated, he learns fast and works extremely hard.”
Roland Jourdain (crew on Virbac-Paprec 3) :
"It's not bad this having crew status, certainly you sail with a lot less pressure. Also, I am delighted to join the team for this. The fact is that we have often been rivals on the water in races like the Vendee Globe, Barcelona World Race and the Route du Rhum and now we are together on board. Friendships were formed before, but now it is an opportunity to cement them. "
From : Europa Warm'Up
