The first night brought good conditions with boat speeds of around 20 knots, and the field is making rapid progress to the north-west and will soon have left the Bay of Biscay. However, a storm depression is also approaching from the west, making things difficult for the skippers: the counterpart to this is a high pressure system off the coast of Portugal, which is blocking the direct route south via the Canary Islands.
A larger leading group has now formed, which has slightly better conditions further to the north-west than the boats further south, led by Nicolas Troussel's "Corum L'Épargne", which is showing amazing pace for a boat that finished so shortly before the race. Even the favourite "Charal" (Jérémie Beyou) was unable to keep up with the pace at times.
Boris Herrmann is also in this group of new boats and is well in the race. Of the newer and faster boats, only Alex Thomson and his "Hugo Boss" had to let go a little, falling back a few miles after sailing close to Boris Herrmann for a long time yesterday. In today's video update, the Brit provided the explanation for the gap: he first caught a fishing net with the foil, which he had to remove, then the sheet slipped out of the cleat during a sail change, which he said cost him around six miles.
The skippers are currently working their way upwind, but will probably tack once during the course of the day to make some way south before having to head west again to cross the depression. A tactically tricky start, which will also bring a decent wind tonight and tomorrow with an average of over 35 knots and waves of up to 5 metres - the first test for skippers and equipment.
Boris Herrmann sent a short video of the start, in which he sails on a par with "Arkéa Paprec".
The first technical problems have already occurred. Fabrice Amedeo had to turn his "Newrest - Art & Fenêtres" around yesterday and sail 50 nautical miles back to Les Sables d'Olonne because a latch of his gennaker had got caught in the top of the mast and he was unable to release it. However, he intends to return to the race today. Thomas Ruyant also had the same problems on his "Linked Out", but was able to retrieve the sail and will now probably have to climb into the mast in the first calm conditions.
Andreas Fritsch
Editor Travel
