Image: Basile Bourgnon aboard Edenred @ Pierre Bou

BASILE BOURGNON: "IT'S DEMANDING BUT WE ENJOY IT!"
The favorite in the Ocean Fifty class, skipper Edenred continues to lead the pack. While Basile acknowledges that nothing is easy, he's trying to pace himself, hanging in there, and giving it his all. He spoke this morning during the radio call. 

“It’s sad news to hear about our friend Matthieu’s capsize. We know our boats are demanding, that there are strong gusts from time to time, and that we have to be careful. We text each other, we talk about it. Sometimes we wonder if we’re pushing the limits a bit. But we’re also here to compete, to create gaps, and we have to push a little. So, as soon as we have a sufficient lead and the conditions allow it, we try to rest, to be less constantly on the gas. That’s what I’m trying to do right now.”

 

CRAZY SPEED, STRATEGY AND FIRST BREAKS
Basile Bourgnon sets an impressive pace in Ocean Fifty, while Tom Laperche dominates the race in Ultim, achieving a perfect start.

Three days at full speed, and now the Atlantic has reshuffled the deck. North of the Azores, the weather transitions have already shaken up the rankings, while a complex low-pressure system is preparing to welcome part of the fleet. Between tactical maneuvers, close duels, and technical incidents, the six classes of the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe are now progressing at very different paces. And no one has yet figured out what to do next.

The right train, at the right time

There are some opportunities you really don't want to miss. Corentin Horeau (MACSF) made the right one yesterday, north of the Azores, leaving his rivals behind without even an apology. By entering the trough from the south, the skipper was the only IMOCA to cross this transition zone before it closed in on his competitors. Since then, the pace has been incredible: more than 130 miles ahead this Wednesday morning, a speed exceeding 20 knots, and behind him, competitors still struggling in light winds. " When I see the rankings, I can't believe it! This is what we dream of as sailors: making gains like this. I really thought I wasn't going to make it through, then I found that little bit of wind that allowed me to get going again. After that, it was full throttle!" “There’s no question of letting our guard down, though: Corentin is sailing in a narrow wind corridor, where he has to make numerous gybes to avoid falling back into the lull. For Élodie Bonafous (Association Petits Princes – Quéguiner), the episode left a bitter taste. “ I knew we couldn’t linger to get past the front. But I didn’t think we’d struggle so much and be stuck for so long.”

 

It’s going to be difficult to see Corentin again, even if all hope isn’t lost.  ” The contrast is striking with the Ultim class, where the suspense has, on the contrary, intensified. After having a lead of more than 70 miles on Tuesday, Tom Laperche (SVR-Lazartigue) now only has about 20 miles on Armel Le Cléac’h (Maxi Banque Populaire XI). The leader has navigated a series of weather traps, from unexpected calms to violent gusts. “ We had zero knots, then 30 knots with all sails up! The wind was really unstable, and we couldn't maintain our average speeds. But if we manage to stay ahead, that's good.  ” The sailor from Morbihan and his closest pursuer have just tacked to head south and find conditions with full speed. Thomas Coville (Sodebo Ultim 3) has already chosen a more southerly route. The weather files have delivered their forecasts. The Atlantic, for its part, continues to defy expectations.

When the room for maneuver shrinks

But the news from last night reminds us that the battle isn't just being fought on the routing screens. Yesterday, at 10:05 PM, Matthieu Perraut (Elvest) capsized 400 miles north of the Azores. The skipper of the Ocean Fifty is doing well, remains in contact with race control and his technical team, and is awaiting rescue. This event has deeply affected his fellow competitors. Leading on Edenred, Basile Bourgnon doesn't hide the questions everyone is asking themselves aboard these particularly demanding trimarans. " We text each other. Sometimes we wonder if we're pushing the limits. You have to push hard to create a gap, but as soon as we can, we try to rest and ease off the throttle.  " The young sailor has found more consistent conditions downwind and finally no longer feels like he's sailing through a potato field. He's trying to take advantage of this to recover, without losing sight of his pursuers. Three of them remain grouped in his wake, while Thibaut Vauchel-Camus (Solidaires En Peloton by Delanchy) has opted for a very northerly course. " If it works out in our favor, he'll have left too early. And if it closes in ahead of us, he'll have made the right choice. The die is cast!  "

 

Elsewhere, some no longer have much choice but to slow down: they must repair, make a stopover, or give up. Charles Caudrelier (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild), the reigning Ultim champion, has decided to turn back to Lorient after the major damage sustained on Tuesday to his port foil. His team hopes to find him next weekend. Anthony Marchand (Actual Ultim 4), for his part, reached Galway late Tuesday afternoon. Investigations are continuing before any decision is made regarding the next stage of his adventure. In the IMOCA class, Jérémie Beyou (Charal), who was in second place, has chosen to stop his race for medical reasons after consulting with the doctor and race management. He is heading towards the Azores.

The weather, that great game of calculated chance

Minor setbacks or major mishaps, damage doesn't have a monopoly on disrupted plans. For a good portion of the fleet, the next big unknown, as we understand, is this infamous low-pressure system. Weather models disagree on both its position and intensity. It's a bit like assembling IKEA furniture with three different instruction manuals and no certainty about the outcome. In the Class40 class, Robin Follin is benefiting this morning from a favorable position in the rankings, thanks to his route being closer to the great circle, while Guillaume Pirouelle (Sogestran – Seafrigo) and Pierre Leboucher (Institut Imagine) continue their duel. "Right now , it's a free-for-all!  " exclaims Guillaume Pirouelle, who is watching with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism as the 40-foot monohulls scatter across the Atlantic, each defending their own strategy. " Those heading north, I find that daring! On paper, the routing seems to support their position." But they imagine us doing things we're not necessarily capable of in such conditions. Personally, going downwind solo in huge seas with 40 knots of wind, or even more, didn't feel right for me.”

 

The Norman sailor doesn't hide the fact that he too is venturing into uncharted territory: he's never faced such a phenomenon before. And the current conditions offer him little respite: squalls, sail changes, choppy seas, and a few nasty landings have already filled his schedule considerably. Tanguy Caradec (Eurvad) shares this uncertainty aboard his Rhum Mono. For his first transatlantic crossing, he's discovering a Route du Rhum that is definitely anything but a smooth ride. “ I'm a little apprehensive about what's going to happen. You have to find the right balance between commitment, recovery, and preserving the boat. And then, using your head, try to pass through the right place so you don't get tossed around too much .” "West, east or south: everyone has chosen their line. Like at the supermarket, it remains to be seen which one will move the fastest."

Pleasure hasn't had its last word yet.

Because amidst all these complications, there's still what makes the race so special: the pleasure of sailing fast, of competing against others, and of getting the most out of your boat. In the Rhum Mono class, Kieran Le Borgne (Armor-Lux – Le Finistère Assurance), Sidney Gavignet (Le Cigare Rouge), and Tanguy Caradec are within 2.5 miles of each other. Three boats, three skippers, and a ranking that changes almost with every checkpoint. " It's fantastic! I'm doing what I can, as best I can. I have confidence in my boat; it's been well prepared. I'm trying not to push it too hard because there's still a long way to go, and my goal is to reach the other side.  " And when his Eurvad surfs at 21.5 knots, it's hard not to savor the moment. In the Rhum Multi class, Éric Péron (French Touch – Oceania Hôtels) took the lead in the middle of the night, dethroning Damien Seguin (Arkéa – Handicap International), who has been dealing with a broken spinnaker pole since Monday evening.

 

But the new leader isn't without his own troubles: his large gennaker is torn. Tanguy Caradec sums up the strangeness of these first few days quite well: " It's crazy! We've been sailing downwind for three days straight. I don't know if there have been many Route du Rhum starts this fast! We almost forgot that difficulties were part of the program!" The challenge now lies ahead. And as he points out with a smile, this year the competitors will mainly be experiencing the Azores Low. Not its famous high-pressure system.

 

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