Transat Jacques Vabre: Storm Ciarán approaching - hope for restarts soon
Tatjana Pokorny
· 01.11.2023
The race organisers of the 16th Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre are not to be envied. They have to keep an eye on the weal and woe of four Transat classes in the most difficult weather conditions. The effects of the weather-related reorganisation of the race course for Ocean Fifties and Class 40 as well as the Imocas, which continue to hold out in Le Havre, are considerable on many levels.
Transat restart for Class 40 and Ocean Fifty not before 6 November
The organisers are under pressure to act and also have to take other interests into account when making their decisions. Apart from the five sailing Ultim multihulls, 90 teams had to replan and massively reorganise their logistics. Maximum flexibility is also required from the operators of the French start and stage ports and the organisers in the Caribbean finish port of Fort-de-France.
In a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, race director Francis Le Goff and Transat-Jacques-Vabre co-director Gildas Gautier reported on the various start scenarios for the boats currently moored in Le Havre and Lorient. Gildas Gautier explained: "The latest weather analysis is just available. For the two classes of boats moored in Lorient harbour, there is no foreseeable window for a restart until at least Monday. But of course that doesn't mean that a start will take place on Monday."
Possible Imoca launch on 5 November not certain
The Ocean Fifty and Class 40 classes had already completed a sprint to Lorient at the start of the Transat, where they are now waiting for the severe storm Ciarán, which is forecast for Wednesday evening, overnight and Thursday, and then the further procedure. "We have secured our boat well for this," reported "Sign for Com" co-skipper Melwin Fink. His team, Next Generation Sailing, has rented modest accommodation in Lorient and is awaiting the next decisions in France.
The Imoca class, which has not yet sailed in the Transat Jacques Vabre, is still being considered for a possible start on 5 November (Sunday). However, the conditions remain more than challenging with the forecasts for wind and swell. Gildas Gautier says: "We will work with the class to see how we can start in calm conditions. Incidentally, it is not impossible that a waypoint will be used in the event of a launch in order to avoid the very exposed northern routes. This also applies to Class 40 and Ocean Fifty."
Storm Ciarán causes historic red warning level
Francis Le Goff explained on Wednesday all the possibilities for new launches so that Imocas, Class 40s and Ocean Fifties can get going. Gildas Gautier explained: "We are all frustrated and disappointed. The financial impact on the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre is also manifold. However, as was the case last Sunday, the safety of the boats and sailors will remain our top priority when organising the new starts."
The organisers and sports directors of the "Route du Café" now have their eyes on Ciarán, which is the subject of massive warnings on the French Atlantic coast, around the English Channel and in the UK. The BBC reported: "England and the Channel Islands are preparing for tremors." The French daily newspaper "Ouest-France" reported: "The Côte-d'Armor department has been put on red alert: a historic first."
France prepares for 'weather bomb' in the north-west" ("Le Monde")
The paper continued: "For the first time in its history, the department of Côte-d'Armor was placed on a red warning level for strong winds by Météo France on Wednesday, 1 November - just a few hours before the arrival of storm Ciarán, which will sweep across the west of the Hexagon." The term "L'Hexagone" is used alternatively for France, after the rough geographical shape of an octagon. The daily newspaper "Le Monde" headlined: "France prepares for 'weather bomb' in the north-west."
Which is why Francis Le Goff also addressed the security measures being taken in the two French ports where the Transat classes are holding out at Wednesday's press conference: "Special instructions have been issued in the two ports concerned. A logistics team is in Lorient to accompany the teams of sailors. Julien Bothuan, chief harbour master of La Base in Lorient, has found individual solutions so that no ship has to lie in the packet."
Pontoons removed, lorries for shielding
Francis Le Goff also said: "A large part of the race management and the offshore team is on site in Le Havre. The pontoons have been removed so that the boats lie in the direction of the wind and not crosswise when the wind shifts to the west. The dismantling of the regatta village was accelerated so that nothing could fly away. In addition, lorries have been set up as shielding. There will be another organised round in the afternoon." The safety precautions will be checked once again.
In contrast, it was a topsy-turvy world at sea, where the crews on the five Ultim giants had to deal with calm winds on Wednesday. Shortly before the passage of Madeira, "Banque Populaire XI" took the lead ahead of "SVR Lazartigue". The defending champions on "Maxi Edmond de Rothschild" followed close behind. All three giant foilers were only two nautical miles apart on Wednesday afternoon, three days after the start, and continued to engage in an intense three-way battle.
The current view of La Base: - Here you can see the live cameras that focus on the harbour of Lorient and the Transat boats.Very well in view: the German "Sign for Com" .
