Vendée Arctique: Course shortened, continuation open: "Apivia" and "Charal" at provisional destination off Iceland

An area of low pressure extending from north to south is rushing into the regatta field of the Vendée Arctique in the Atlantic. In the meantime, it is jeopardising the safety of the participants to such an extent that the race committee of the race from Les Sables-d'Olonne to Iceland and back felt compelled "with a heavy heart" to take several drastic measures: the day before, the course was shortened for the time being and a virtual finish line was set up north-east of Iceland. Today, the race organisers officially asked the fleet to seek the best possible shelter after passing the line. The continuation of the race is still open, but will be decided "soon". With Charlie Dalin's dominant "Apivia" and Jérémie Beyou's stubbornly following "Charal", the first two boats have already reached the intermediate finish. All the others are endeavouring to reach the virtual goal as quickly as possible so that they can then sail as safe a course as possible. Winds in excess of 40 knots with gusts of around 50 knots are expected in the region.

Alain Leboeuf, President of SAEM Vendée and the Vendée Department, said: "As we have always indicated and now repeat, it has always been our duty to ensure the safety of the sailors and to avoid all manageable risks. The evolution of the weather situation that the fleet is facing forces us to make tough decisions together with the race organisers and our experienced meteorologist. As organisers, it seems essential to us that the sailors can seek shelter and temporarily interrupt the regatta to protect themselves from this area of low pressure. They will soon return to the race course and we will all continue to follow their adventures with enthusiasm."

Race Director Francis Le Goff also commented early Friday morning on the unusual measure for this solo race in the North Atlantic: "Conditions will be particularly bad for the leading skippers tomorrow afternoon because of this low pressure system that is gradually strengthening towards the north-east of Iceland. We are expecting strong winds of 35 to 40 knots, which means gusts of over 50 knots. In the interests of justice and fair play, we have therefore decided that skippers can seek shelter as soon as they have passed the gate in the south-east of Iceland. We will log the times at the gate before the skippers can take shelter. We have started discussions with harbours that may be able to accommodate them. The race will then continue according to the conditions we are currently setting." The scenario is reminiscent of the first leg of the last Mini-Transat, when the fleet was warned of an approaching storm and told to seek shelter. However, these calls had neither been linked to an interim destination nor had they been recognised as binding. Melwin Fink had decided to continue the race with his Mini "Signforcom" and won the storm leg.