The conditions have calmed down a bit for the whole fleet after a difficult day on Tuesday. While some of them had taken shelter, sailing to numerous Breton ports, others were hit hard by the 55-knot winds and gusts to 65 knots! Dismastings, hull delamination and various damages were recorded in all classes.
This Wednesday, November 7, the conditions are a little calmer euros 30 knots of wind and cross seas and all will try to reach the southwest as soon as possible. Others will have to make stopovers to repair.
The ULTIMATE
There are only three of them left in the Ultime class after the capsizing of the Maxi Banque Populaire IX which occurred on November 6 and the damage to Romain Pilliard (Remade-Use It Again). François Gabart (Macif) is still slightly ahead of Francis Joyon (Idec Sport), 28 miles behind. They are trying to catch the erratic trade winds and should wait until Wednesday evening to hit the Azores high and slide rapidly towards the West Indies. For Thomas Coville, nothing is lost since he intends to leave La Coruña as soon as Sodebo Ultim''s link arm is repaired.
Fleet update
- Sébastien Josse (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild) on a technical stopover in La Coruña. Damage: starboard float torn off over a distance of about ten meters.
- Thomas Coville (Sodebo Ultim') in technical stopover in La Coruña. Damage: damaged front linkage fairing and crack in the arm.
- Armel Le Cléac'h (Maxi Solo Banque Populaire IX) off the Azores. Damage: capsized after the port float broke. Skipper recovered by a fishing boat.
- Romain Pilliard, the skipper of the trimaran Remade- Use It Again is heading for La Coruña, about 170 miles from its position to repair its mainsail cars.
The MULTI50
In the Multi50s, the fleet is complete and led by Thibaut Vauchel Camus (Solidaires en Peloton) followed by Gilles Lamiré (La French Tech Rennes) 20 miles behind, and Erwan Le Roux who has moved up to 3rd place 25.6 miles behind the leader.
The leader believes that he still has a good day of descent to the southwest before he can take a breather. Armel Tripon, who managed to get away from the Portuguese coast, must now head west to hope to cross in front.
Finally, Lalou Roucayrol (Arkema) took to the sea again this morning, leaving his stopover in Lisbon. He is in 6th position.
IMOCA boats
In the IMOCA class, Paul Meilhat is not letting go of the top spots! Since the start, he has been sailing a very good course, has managed to avoid the gale and is sailing this Wednesday morning off Lisbon. Vincent Riou in his transom and the British Alex Thomson in his NW.
Fleet update
Out of the 20 solo sailors competing in the IMOCA class, there were nine incidents of damage and one retirement.
- Louis Burton (Bureau Vallée) is in Roscoff. Damage: water ingress through the starboard foil well. Official withdrawal.
- Manuel Cousin (Groupe Sétin) is in Camaret. Damage : Defective rudder fixing.
- Alexia Barrier (4myplanet) is in Concarneau. Damage : problem with the air sensor
- Jérémie Beyou (Charal) is in Lorient. Damage: rudder transmission.
- Isabelle Joschke (Monin) on her way to Brittany. Damage: dismasting.
- Romain Attanasio (Pure-Family Mary) on his way to Brittany. Damage : explosion of the J3 and the mainsail hook
- Samantha Davies (Initiatives C?ur) on her way to Brittany. Damage: structural problem on the hull.
- Fabrice Amédéo (Newrest-Art & Fenêtres) on his way to Lisbon to repair. Damage : broken bowsprit
- Yannick Bestaven (Maître CoQ) on his way to Lisbon to repair. Damage: Fixing the mainsail.
CLASS40
Among the Class40s, the objective is also to reach the South-West as quickly as possible to avoid a new low pressure system expected overnight. Yoann Richomme (Veedol euros AIC) is still leading the fleet, followed 36 miles behind by Aymeric Chappellier (Aina Enfance & Avenir) and Phil Sharp (Imerys Clean Energy) 38.4 miles behind.
Fleet update
Of the 53 solo sailors in Class40, 18 have taken shelter or reached a port due to damage.
- Marc Dubos (Esprit Scout) took refuge in Roscoff.
- Jean Galfione (Serenis Consulting) took refuge in Brest.
- Dominique Rivard (Marie Galante-April) is in Brest. Damage: knee injury to the skipper.
- Maxime Cauwe (Azeo-On est large) took refuge in Camaret
- Hiroshi Kitada (Kiho) took refuge in Lorient.
- François Lassort (Bijouteries Lassort-Tonton Louis) took refuge in Brest.
- Cédric de Kervenoael (Grizzly Barber Shop) took refuge in Camaret.
- Nicolas Jossier (Manorga) took refuge in Concarneau.
- Andrea Fantini (Enel Green Power) took refuge in Lorient.
- Romain Rossi (Digestscience Foundation) took refuge in Lorient.
- Halvard Mabire (Colombre XL) took refuge in Bénodet.
- Emmanuel Hamez (Teranga) took refuge in Bénodet.
- Loïc Le Doyen (Saint Cast-Le Guildo-Terre Exotique) took refuge in Lorient.
- Sam Goodchild (Narcos: Mexico) is heading for the tip of Brittany. Damage: dismasting.
- Arthur Gascoin (Up Sail & Connect) on his way to Lorient to take shelter.
- Olivier Magre (E. Leclerc-Ville La Grande) is heading for Lorient to take shelter.
- Sébastien Desquesses (Kersia-Le Guével-Spirit of Saint Malo) is heading for the tip of Brittany.
- Arthur Hubert (Audi Saint Malo-Espoir pour un Rhum) is heading for La Coruña.
RHUM MULTI
Pierre Antoine (Olmix) leads the fleet of Rhum Multi, far ahead of the rest of the competitors 85 miles ahead of the second place, Alain Delhumeau (Rayon Vert).
Fleet update
- Of the 21 skippers involved, 9 are safe:
- Franck Sainte-Marie (Branec IV) took refuge in Camaret.
- Christian Guyader (Guyader Gastronomie) has taken refuge in Bénodet.
- Gildas Breton (Bo Carré) took refuge in Loctudy.
- Erwan Thiboumery (Gold.fr for Bioniria) took refuge in Brest.
- Charlie Capelle (Acapella-Soreal-Proludic) took refuge in Concarneau.
- Gérald Bibot (Zed7) took refuge in La Trinité/mer.
- Pierrick Tollemer (Resadia) took refuge in Lorient.
- Gilles Buekenhout (Jess) has taken refuge in Avilès (Spain)
- Yann Marilley (No Limit-BMP) has taken refuge in Gijon (Spain)
RHUM MONO
As announced, in the Rhum Mono class, Sidney Gavignet (Cafe Joyeux) is leading the fleet, far ahead of his main rival, Sébastien Destremeau (Alcatrazit euros Faceocean), 131.7 miles behind.
Fleet update
Of the 17 participants in the Rhum Mono, 7 are safe or have encountered problems:
- Bob Escoffier (Kriter V-Socomore-Quéguiner) took refuge in Roscoff
- Willy Bissainte (C' La Guadeloupe) ran aground on one of the Seven Islands. After intervention of the SNSM Ploumanac'h, the boat was towed to Roscoff following an ingress of water.
- Christophe Souchaud (Rhum Solidaire Cap Handi) has taken refuge in Camaret
- Éric Bellion (Commeunseulhomme) took refuge in Aber Wrac'h.
- Laurent Jubert (L'espace du souffle) took refuge in Aber Wrac'h.
- Nicolas Magnan (SOS windshield) took refuge in Camaret.
- Olivier Leroux (Art Immobilier Construction) took refuge in Camaret.
