The Défi Azimut has set off from the offshore capital of Lorient with an incredible Imoca fleet of 33 boats. The two-handed teams will need around 48 hours to complete the 609 nautical mile square course, with the first of them expected to cross the finish line on Saturday morning. The race will serve as the final test before the upcoming Transat Jacques Vabre and also as an opportunity to assess the current situation with a view to the upcoming Vendée Globe. The most important new designs have been presented and now almost all of them will be competing against each other for the first time. Some of the new designs have already made a good impression, but the consistency and especially the experience of the somewhat older Ocean Race participants could also pay off.
They will have an advantage, especially in the forecast conditions with strong westerly winds off the coast of Brittany. However, none of the teams will be taking too many risks, as the time until the next important races is too short. "We won't hesitate to slow down a little and let the rough conditions pass us by," announced "V and B - Monbana - Mayenne" skipper Maxime Sorel, among others. This is especially true for him at the start: "34 boats in a line - that's no fun. We don't want to get into trouble right at the start of a 48-hour race."
Can Charlie Dalin be beaten with his new building?
The so-called speed runs were actually supposed to take place yesterday, but these were also postponed to Sunday due to the weather situation. The aim is to log the best time over a distance of one nautical mile. Each team starts individually and has several attempts. Last year's winner of this competition was Charlie Dalin, then with his "Apivia", which is now competing as "L'Occitane en Provence" with Clarisse Crémer at the helm.
The 2021 Vendée Globe runner-up has equipped himself with a new boat and is considered the top favourite, lying in second position shortly after the start. His "Macif Santé Prévoyance" is the youngest of the current Verdier designs. The two-time and reigning Défi Azimut winner has already made his first mark with his victory in the Rolex Fastnet Race. Meanwhile, his rival Thomas Ruyant is still struggling with major problems on his new build "For People". While it is still in the shipyard, he will therefore get back on his old "LinkedOut", with which he sailed to sixth place in the 2021 Vendée Globe. She is now being skippered by Sam Goodchild under the name "For the Planet". Together with his racing team colleague Ruyant, he now forms a promising duo for the Défi Azimut.
Vendée Globe winner Yannick Bestaven sees "outsider's chance" at the Défi Azimut
Yoann Richomme's "Paprec Arkéa" is, like Ruyant's new build, a design by Antoine Koch/Finot Conq with similar lines. While Ruyant had to abandon the Fastnet Race, Richomme sailed a strong race with co-skipper Yann Eliès and was only beaten by Dalin. After problems in the Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race, the team had already strengthened the bow of the "Paprec Arkéa" before the Fastnet Race. The successful duo now go into the 48-hour test as joint favourites. The same applies to the currently leading team Jérémie Beyou/Franck Cammas, who also struggled in the Fastnet Race. Vendée Globe winner Yannick Bestaven is also hoping for a top finish with his new "Maître CoQ V", the sister ship of 11th Hour Racing's "Mālama", and fellow competitor Julien Pulvé. However, Bestaven had to take a break following an injury in the spring, but says he is back in top form. "I have the feeling that I have an outside chance, and that's a position I love."
One of the Ocean Race teams in particular can challenge this leading group for victory. In addition to Paul Meilhat and Mariana Lobato ("Biotherm"), Boris Herrmann's "Malizia - Seaexplorer". A year ago, the Défi Azimut served as the first test for the then new Imoca, and now Boris Herrmann and co-skipper Will Harris are among the favourites for the race. The Imoca has sailed once around the world as part of The Ocean Race and has long since been washed in all waters. After the race, "Malizia - Seaexplorer" also underwent a complete overhaul, including some minor adjustments. With an incredible 641.13 nautical miles in 24 hours and an average speed of 26.71 knots, Herrmann's racing machine is the fastest monohull of all time.
Boris Herrmann and Team Malizia's world record will fall - but when?
The record was set on the North Atlantic during the fifth leg of the Ocean Race, at that time still with Holcim PRB newcomer Rosalin Kuiper on board. The Swiss yacht, which is not yet competing in the Défi Azimut, had shortly before beaten the 24-hour monohull record held for eight years by the much larger centipede "Comanche", but was then also beaten by Herrmann's team. The German yacht's 641.13 nautical miles are now uncompromisingly recognised in the sailing world, but the world record has still not been officially ratified.
The previous record of 618 nautical miles was thought to be almost unbeatable, then it was suddenly raised several times during the Ocean Race and finally by 22 nautical miles. Afterwards, Boris Herrmann spoke of unique conditions: "We had historically unique conditions: smooth seas, perfect angles. It will never be like this again in a race."
According to experts, however, the foiling Imoca generation is far from having reached the end of its possibilities. Yacht designer Guillaume Verdier said in an interview with the Imoca Class Association when asked whether the current record could be beaten in the foreseeable future: "Sure, yes. Is the question about the condition of the yachts today? The aerodynamics of these boats are pretty rubbish, to be honest. There is a lot that can be done to improve them." However, there will probably not be a new record at the Défi Azimut.
