Image Credit: Guillaume Pirouelle, skipper of the Class40 Sogestran - Seafrigo

 

The trade winds? Gone. Shorts? Still at the bottom of the bag. Four days after the start from Saint-Malo, the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe has turned into a meteorological puzzle. Between two low-pressure systems, unpredictable squalls, and trajectories that need to be reinvented, the six fleets are each advancing at their own pace, but rarely as planned. Even the seasoned sailors are finding it hard to believe.

Quickly, but not too quickly!

First, some excellent news. Armel Le Cléac'h, whose capsize of Maxi Banque Populaire XI had caused considerable concern on Wednesday, was rescued safe and sound yesterday afternoon by a Panamanian cargo ship. A huge relief in a race that is proving decidedly tough on the sailors. Leading the Ultim class, Tom Laperche (SVR-Lazartigue) still holds a comfortable lead. And a rather peculiar problem: how far he can afford to slow down. After a few hours of fast sailing in relatively favorable conditions, the leader is expected to encounter the first effects of a storm system located northeast of the Greater Antilles as early as Thursday evening. Tomorrow, he will have to slip south of the system before sailing upwind towards Guadeloupe in rough and chaotic seas. A sequence where even the best calculations won't be enough. " I've never sailed through this kind of depression before," he said. We'll have to find the right compromise between the theoretically optimal trajectory and what's actually feasible on the water. The boat wants to go fast, we have to let it glide, but not too fast!  It's a question of balance, even in the choice of sails. "Above all, we have to avoid being overpowered. Sometimes we're a little short on sail area and it's frustrating, but when we have some leeway, it's easier to accept." Fatigue also plays a role in the decisions. And while the finish line is approaching, the scenery is still anything but tropical. " Two days from the finish, I'm still in a down jacket, oilskin trousers, and boots!  " He was promised the Caribbean, but he got Irish Sea weather instead.

When the Atlantic steps on the accelerator

Further east, the Azores depression has already begun to batter the leading IMOCA and Ocean Fifty boats. Corentin Horeau experienced a particularly rapid demonstration of this around 4:30 this morning. " I just got caught in a pretty violent storm! I went from 8 to 40 knots in fifteen seconds. I absolutely wasn't expecting it. I had to make a run for it to furl my headsail. Luckily, I didn't break anything.  " The MACSF skipper also had to contend with areas of light winds, while Boris Herrmann (Malizia 4), who had better conditions, made up some of his deficit. Yesterday, the sailor from La Trinité-sur-Mer had built up a lead of 230 miles. He still maintains a 145-mile advantage. Not really enough to cry foul, even if, once you've tasted a long breakaway, you quickly become greedy! The fact remains that the coming hours will require a different kind of vigilance. With the announced strengthening of the wind, it will be necessary to maintain the pace without being carried away by the power of these monohulls. " The problem with these boats is that even when you want to slow down, you can't always manage it!  " Basile Bourgnon (Edenred), for his part, didn't need to glance at the anemometer to gauge the violence of the conditions. During the radio call, the battering his trimaran was taking was a constant topic of conversation. " I'm close to having the minimum sail area possible. It's really rough! There are 30 knots of wind on average behind the front, and in these kinds of conditions, in an Ocean Fifty, you don't mess around. The goal isn't to go fast, but to get out of here without damaging the equipment.  " And the most troublesome aspect wasn't necessarily coming from the sky. " Now, we have to deal with the residual sea left by the front. It's coming in broadside; it's horrible. I can't wait to get out of this place!"  "Tomorrow could offer the leading ships of these two fleets a lull in the weather systems. A pause in hostilities, but not yet a peace treaty: further deterioration remains possible as they approach the Lesser Antilles this weekend."#

 

Theory is good. Being able to follow it is better.

On land, even with both feet dry and a coffee within reach, the navigators also have plenty to worry about. Philippe Legros, who is accompanying Léonard Legrand (Sodebo Fifty), sums up the puzzle. “ We’re going to look for routes that won’t necessarily be optimal, but they’re still feasible. It’s a Route du Rhum without trade winds, so it’s particularly complex.  ” In the Class40 fleet, Guillaume Pirouelle (Sogestran – Seafrigo) is enjoying almost calm seas this Thursday. After a windless transition, the sailor from Normandy saw his pursuers benefit from more favorable conditions. “ I had built up a bit of a lead, then the gaps narrowed considerably. It’s never very pleasant, but it was expected.  ” For the moment, he’s savoring pleasures that have become almost luxurious. “ It’s nice to be able to move around without having to hold on at every step, to eat better, and to sleep more soundly. But that’s going to change quickly.  ” And for good reason. On Friday, it will be the turn of the 40-footers to face this infamous low-pressure system northwest of the Azores. Strong winds, sudden shifts, and increasingly rough seas: the forecast promises to be challenging. Depending on their position and the chosen strategy, they will not all experience the same conditions. " Near the center, we'll have to stay alert. After that, we risk having a day and a half, or even two days, of difficult conditions.  "

The tropics will have to wait.

For the competitors in the Rhum Mono and Vintage Multi categories, the equation is different again. More dispersed across the Atlantic, they will have to contend with weather systems that will evolve as they progress. Under these conditions, it's impossible to apply a common strategy: each position offers its own possibilities, but also imposes its own constraints. And then there's this curious situation: four days after leaving Saint-Malo, Mathieu Claveau (Inherent – ​​Phare 40) and Stéphane Bodin (Wasabiii) are still sailing at the latitude of the corsair city. The two Class40s have covered many miles and performed numerous maneuvers, without making much progress southward. It's hard to find a better illustration of a transatlantic race deprived of its usual trade winds. And judging by what's unfolding on the charts, this Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe has clearly not yet exhausted its repertoire.

 
 

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