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Press release Bertrand Delesne explodes records
With over 298.8 nautic miles traveled in twenty-four hours of August 19 at 8:00 am (GMT +2) to August 20 at 8:00, the skipper of Prati'Buches entered a new record in the tablets: a 6.50 m boat has never held such average or, 12.45 knots on average. This means that peaks in excess of sixteen knots and above all an ability to keep pace without ever recant ... Considering the conditions encountered, the feat becomes even more valuable.
Do not rely on the placid Bertrand Delesne. His debonair appearance hides a formidable competitor, perfectly at ease when he is at sea. For evidence, the new record he just set by browsing around 300 nautic miles on the road in twenty-four hours. Exact calculations will give the distance which may be a little longer than advertised, but never a Mini had held such a pace. The skipper of Prati'Buches, content with his second place at the finish in the Azores, had deliberately played caution on the first leg. For him, the key was to get placed with a boat in perfect condition, in order to attack at will upon return to Les Sables d'Olonne. It is clear that so far his plan works perfectly. With more than 50 nautic milles ahead of his first prosecutor, he is ideally placed to see what happens before the next days promise to be complicated.
Same pattern, same punishment in boat series. Xavier Macaire (Starter) which was known to be particularly comfortable in the steady breeze has demonstrated yet again by relegating his two immediate pursuers almost twenty nautic miles, and capturing the fourth performance in the general ranking, all categories. Given the sea conditions reported by support boats and the number of competitors who have confessed to leaving the road completely without control, we can imagine what it took tenacity, fine driving and resistance to reach carry their boats as they did.
Podiums uncertain
For the first place in each group, the situation is, for the moment, although decanted. In contrast, the podiums are far from being established. In the prototype, Sébastien Rogues (EOLE Generation - GDF SUEZ) is still under the threat of Andrea Caracci (Speedy Maltese). Other single handed skippers, if they do not compete in the overall ranking, are conducting a second leg very well made in the image of Lucas Montagne (ONG Conseil), had first decided to stop putting North in his course and join the direct route. Good idea since he still points in the fourth position of the prototypes. Other soufrent obviously much more: Ryan Finn (Myrna Minkoff) which the road shows, a priori, a disabled boat. After an unusually road north, the American sailor had slowed sharply, and then continued his course eastwards, before stopping again. Dismasting, problem of rudder? Still, the race director decided to divert a support boat to his position. In series, Davy Beaudart (Innovea Environnement), handicapped by problems of rudders, sees fly the first place overall, while Jean-Marc Allaire (Baker Tilly AG2R La Mondiale) can begin to dream of the heir apparent . For the final podium, nothing is played: Davy Beaudart can still hope if he succeeds to contain the onslaught of a group in which Amaury françois (amauryfrancois.com) and Robert Rosenjacobson (NED 602) seem, for the hour, the best placed.
Know last
However, we imagine that the route followed by these single-handed skippers last twenty-four hours was not a long quiet road strewn with rose petals. Support boats speak of a hollow sea, winds, if they were gusting not as a storm, were distinguished by their highly irregular: in short, vicious conditions which have no parallel to put to the fault a skipper launched at full speed. No wonder then that the latest radio reporting greater number of race incidents: a wave that fills the boat when launched at overspeed, she becomes uncontrollable and is setting, a spinnaker that beats too long and ended up tearing, a bowsprit must be repaired before returning the best ... That's when the breeze has softened, that we may also take into account those who may continue to exploit the potential of their boat at 100% and who will heal wounds and bruises. The coming days promise a complex situation on the Gulf of Biscay and the game is far from being played. It’ll have to show smart, find the right way to the finish line, avoiding the pitfalls of a capricious wind. After the showdown, it will have to activate its neurons. Strong as an Ox and smart as a monkey, the winner of the 2010 edition has revealed a strong position to win.
 samedi 21 août 2010
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