Arkea Ultim Challenge: Caudrelier's dream victory on hold, Marchand passes Cape Horn
Tatjana Pokorny
· 21.02.2024
At the beginning of February, Charles Caudrelier, who was already confidently leading the Arkea Ultim Challenge at the time, had to interrupt his race for 48 hours in the middle of the Pacific. Around three weeks ago, the Frenchman dodged a violent storm on course for Cape Horn before he was able to pass the third, final and most important cape of the circumnavigation.
This Wednesday, the Gitana skipper's story repeats itself after a total of 44 days at sea. With only around 1,200 nautical miles to go to the finish line off Brest, Caudrelier has made another extra loop to avoid the area of low pressure that is currently south of Iceland. This area of low pressure will intensify in the coming hours and shift eastwards. As a result, the Bay of Biscay will hardly be navigable for the next 72 hours.
In search of shelter, the number one in the Gitana team decided to make a pit stop in the Azores archipelago, located in a small channel downwind of the island of Faial near Horta. This is permitted by the rules of the Arkea Ultim Challenge. "We are currently sailing north-west of the Azores High and crossed the ridge of high pressure last night. Unfortunately, a large depression is blocking our way to Brest," said Benjamin Schwartz, one of the Gitana rowers, explaining the complicated situation.
There is no question of taking even the slightest risk. Especially when you consider how far ahead of our competitors we are" (Benjamin Schwartz)
Benjamin Schwartz continued: "40 knots of wind, over 50 in gusts, and eight to nine metres of sea ... We waited patiently and hoped that the conditions would improve, but that is not the case. There is no question of taking even the slightest risk. Especially when you consider how far ahead of our competitors we are."
The team has long agreed that the situation requires at least a 24-hour break from the race track. Sailing close to the Azores, Charles Caudrelier had therefore decided to consider a pit stop there. Initially, he wanted to sit out the heavy weather at sea, as he had done in the Pacific. However, due to the intense shipping traffic in the area and the weather forecasts with particularly heavy seas, he decided to make the stop after all.
The dominator of the Arkea Ultim Challenge will be visited by members of his land team this Wednesday morning. They will support Charles Caudrelier during the shortest possible stopover. In the meantime, the routing experts from the Gitana team are already working on planning the final leg of the circumnavigation to ensure the fastest possible finish.
The Arkea chasers step on the gas
The Ultim giant should be able to set sail again from 22 February, when the prescribed 24-hour minimum break for a pit stop has elapsed. The final miles of the race are expected to be turbulent. Charles Caudrelier makes no secret of the fact that he had hoped for a calmer scenario for the return to "his Brittany". The big dream of winning the historic premiere of the Arkea Ultim Challenge is so close, but will now have to wait a few more days for its realisation.
The situation of the pursuers on the morning of 21 February: "Sodebo Ultim 3" skipper Thomas Coville defended his second position 2,120 nautical miles behind Charles Caudrelier. A good 900 nautical miles behind him, Armel Le Cléac'h on "Banque Populaire XI" has recently been able to make up ground.
The fourth-placed "Actual Ultim 3" skipper Anthony Marchand passed Cape Horn on Tuesday evening. It was the 38-year-old from Saint-Brieuc's second passage of the Horn within a year. He had previously passed the legendary landmark with Team Biotherm in the Ocean Race. "Adagio" skipper Éric Péron will soon follow him. 6,000 nautical miles separated the leader Charles Caudrelier in the holding pattern and the taillight Éric Péron on Wednesday morning.
Ultim fighter Marchand passes Cape Horn
Anthony Marchand, now fully bearded, held a small board with a drawing of a mountain in his hand during the Cape Horn passage. He had handwritten on it: "Cape Horn, merci an Team Actual". Marchand had a lot to contend with in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. He mastered long stretches of the circumnavigation with the port foil removed and the starboard foil locked in the upper position. With this unusual combination, he had to reinvent his sailing style on "Actual Ultim 3". His perseverance has now been rewarded with the mastery of Cape Horn.
