Arkea Ultim Challenge: Caudrelier on course for Point Nemo, duel for second place
Tatjana Pokorny
· 30.01.2024
The "lone leader" of the Arkea Ultim Challenge is approaching the loneliest place in the world: Charles Caudrelier sailed towards Point Nemo on Tuesday after the 22nd night of the Arkea Ultim Challenge with a lead of around 2,600 nautical miles over second-placed Thomas Coville. The "Maxi Edmond de Rothschild" skipper only had around 1,500 nautical miles to go to the Pacific "Pole of Inaccessibility" on Tuesday morning. Point Nemo is the furthest point on earth from the mainland and islands.
Arkea Ultim Challenge: Charles Caudrelier sails on record course
From the Point Nemo longitude, Charles Caudrelier, who sprinted through the Pacific at a recent four-hour average of almost 35 knots, then has another 2,000 nautical miles to Cape Horn to master. Then he can turn left again into the Atlantic and enter the home straight.
After a good three weeks at sea, Gitana's number one is still on course for a record. Record holder François Gabart sailed around the world in 42 days, 16 hours, 40 minutes and 35 seconds in 2017. Caudrelier showed in his first half of the race that he and his boat have what it takes to break the record.
Duel for second place: Coville vs. Le Cléac'h
The senario behind Caudrelier is becoming increasingly exciting. For a long time, Thomas Coville ("Sodebo Ultim 3") held second place unchallenged. Now Armel Le Cléac'h is closing in on him from behind at a high speed of 36 knots. On Tuesday morning, the two were only separated by around 300 nautical miles.
Considering Armel Le Cléac'h's 24-hour repair stop in Recife, Brazil, this is an outstanding performance by him on the blue "Banque Populaire XI". Armel Le Cléac'h passed Cape Leeuwin overnight. He could soon catch up with Thomas Coville, who "only" managed an average of around 30 knots in the past few hours.
"Lots of wind, lots of sea ... without a moment's peace," was how Armel Le Cléac'h described the conditions on Sunday. And they were still more or less the same on Tuesday morning. "Banque Populaire XI" is sailing at the front of a front that is deepening in its south-west.
Strong race to catch up by Armel Le Cléac'h
"This area of low pressure gives him an excellent course," explains Fred Le Peutrec from the race organisation. However, it is complicated because Le Cléac'h has to stay ahead of the front and not be caught up by the low-pressure system. In addition, the "Banque Populaire XI" skipper has to contend with plenty of swell. However, the 46-year-old skipper from Saint-Pol-de-Léon is currently doing very well in his race to catch up.
For Thomas Coville, on the other hand, nothing is simple. According to Fred Le Peutrec, it is difficult to imagine that the skipper is not "hampered by one (or more) technical problems". You can tell that he is travelling slower, that the difference in speed is considerable, explained Fred Le Peutrec. In addition, Coville has remained very northerly, much more northerly than "Maxi Banque Populaire XI". However, the Sodebo team has not yet commented on possible further technical problems.
More than an ocean behind the leader
With a gap of 5,785 nautical miles to the leader Charles Caudrelier, Anthony Marchand on "Actual Ultim 3" also got back on track in fourth place. The 38-year-old from Saint-Brieuc sailed deepest in the Indian Ocean on 30 January at around the 45th parallel south.
"Adagio" skipper Éric Péron has taken up the chase in further light winds. On Tuesday morning, Péron was more than a whole ocean behind the lone frontrunner with a gap of almost 6,900 nautical miles to Charles Caudrelier.
Charles Caudrelier, Thomas Coville, Armel Le Cléac'h, Anthony Marchand and Éric Péron - here the skippers report from on board:
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
