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Pascal Chombart de Lauwe |
Press Release 20 - Speedy leg -
Most of the solo sailors have now joined Horta harbour. And as is customary, among them, we can see some satisfied sailors, some who take a half-hearted assessment and inevitably those who are disappointed about their race. First assessment of a leg, that even if eaten up very fast, has generated gaps that cause a first selection among the fleet.
Between those who still can pretend to the final victory, those who want to fight for the top three and those who put all their hopes on the second leg, skippers do not necessarily have the same motivations at the prospect of the second leg. For now, solo sailors make the most of the Azorean welcome, extraordinary as always, they spend hours putting the race to rights over a drink… First goal for all of them : to make up the lack of sleep before making the most of the Islands.
Prototypes : French-German duel or quartet game ?
Joërg Riechers (Mare.de) and Bertrand Delesne (Prati’bûches) have a certain advantage on their two pursuers Sébastien Rogues (Eole Génération GDF Suez) and Andrea Caracci (Speedy Maltese) who both are more than 3 hours behind the leader. But everybody knows what it is about Oceanic races : the way back, even if the high-pressure is still above the Azores can spread out the fleet. North-East winds can incite the ones or the others to opt for divergent strategies between going North to try to get the prevailing downwinds or make up with the closest trajectory to the shorter course. But leaders will have to be careful of not being focused on their direct opponent and thus forget that an outsider can come out smelling like a rose. Behind this quartet, some will certainly wish to prove that their result on the first leg is nothing but a hitch. Nicolas Boidevezi (Défi GDE) and Thomas Normand (Financière de l’Echiquier) could play spoilsports and prove that they have lost nothing about their skill. However, they will have to be careful about going for extreme option just to try to make a hit. At last, weather will be decisive. If the fleet meets rather strong upwinds, some older boats can have a good time compared with brand new prototypes that maybe would pay for weight savings that force them to slow down on some sea conditions.
Production boats : high-risk Match race
For the production boats ranking, situation looks simpler as Davy Beaudart (Innovea Environnement) and Xavier Macaire (Starter) have made a significant difference on the rest of the fleet. Jean-Marc Allaire (Baker Tilly AG2R La mondiale) is already more than 8 hours behind the two leaders. Main risk for both of them would be to try to outdo one on the other. And the little difference between both boats, that is to say, 30 minutes, can intensify this temptation. They both will have to find the good tempo between the necessary rhythm to take the best on the other and the line that must not be crossed to preserve from damages. But we can imagine we will see such a tense fight as during the first leg, with competitors finally sailing at sight. For the last step of the podium, if we consider that a three hours difference is not insurmountable, they are still four ready to pinch the place to Jean-Marc Allaire. Robert Rosen Jacobson (Ned 602) proves that one can be the oldest of the fleet and have an intact fighting spirit. Jean-Marie Oger (JMO sailing), Ysbrand Endt (Mediabrein) or even Hugo Lavayssière (Hervé Sail design) can legitimately believe in their lucky star.
Before throwing themselves in the weather forecasts, going back to their zone, solo sailors will make the most of the program of festivities that Armando Castro (main organizer of the race in the Azores) and his team have prepared. Between a guided tour of the Faial Island, whaleboats regatta and various parties, it is more than possible that the urge to fight it out and arrive in Les Sables d’Olonne as fast as possible get mixed with this nostalgia one feels when leaving very dear friends for a too long time.
Solo sailors stories :
Jérôme Lecuna (I feel Good) : “I’ve accumulated hard times. As soon as the start, I could not use the windvane mode of my autopilot. Then my mast has cracked. I now have to find how to cover it for the way back. And as it has mostly been a speed race, I’ve paid for my late preparation. I hope that on the way back, we’ll have more games with fronts’ passages, wind changes.”
Jean-Marc Allaire (Baker Tilly AG2R La Mondiale) : “I did not think that I would be so happy everyday to hear Denis Hugues’s voice (race’s director) at the SSB. It has been hard for me to get into the fight : I had to solve out connection problems on my pilots. And so, it took me more than two days to find the good rhythm.”
Nicolas Boidevezi (Défi GDE) : “Just after the Bay of Biscay, I was sleeping in my boat when suddenly I heard somebody whistling like mad. I first thought I was dreaming, then I went out and I saw Andrea (Caracci) side by side to my boat, all sails slacked. As he had seen nobody on the deck, he wanted to be sure I was still aboard… Thus I got out, waved at him, he hauled in his sails, and hup ! he left ….”
Pascal Chombard de Lauwe (Xanlite) : “I am so happy to be here. I’ve gained a little victory over myself. I must admit, I was strung at the start. I was wondering how I would react during eight days alone at sea. And then, I’ve found the good rhythm, and as time goes by, the better it gets. I could have done eight other days, it was no more a problem.”
 mardi 10 août 2010
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Fabienne Robin est arrivée
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