Nothing is for free on the TRANSAT CAFÉ L’OR, the double-handed race from Le Havre to Martinique. As the OCEAN 50 and ULTIM divisions sail south, upwind on the east side of a stormy low pressure system, the IMOCA leaders are actively figuring out their optimal route and positioning for the next system. Meanwhile, Class40’s leading boats are currently clustered in light winds, attempting to break through a transition zone in order to reach the new breezes heading to La Coruña, where the first boats are expected to arrive Wednesday morning, ahead of an incoming active weather system.
The ULTIM leaders have remained intriguingly close, primarily due to the combination of light winds and upwind sailing conditions. Thomas Coville and Benjamin Schwarz on Sodebo Ultim 3 trail the consistent leaders Tom Laperche and Franck Cammas on SVR Lazartigue by just 45 miles, while former race winner Anthony Marchand and Julian Villion on Actual 3 closely follow. Armel Le Cléac’h and Seb Josse from Banque Populaire XI have been making significant speed, potentially allowing them to regain lost miles after a quick pitstop for a rudder replacement.
Meanwhile, the leading Ocean 50s are racing approximately 220 nautical miles north of the Canaries, tussling with challenging conditions involving thundery squalls and severe wind shifts. Pierre Quiroga and Gaston Morvan (Wewise) have maintained their lead, while second-place Edenred’s Basile Bourgnon described the previous night as extremely strenuous, with negligible rest and difficult navigation through turbulent weather.
Turning to the IMOCA class, racing out of a high-pressure ridge and into a cut-off low, the competition at the front has fluctuated dramatically. As of Tuesday afternoon, Jérémie Béyou and Morgan Lagravière (Charal) have taken the lead, but staying clear of the system’s centre while maintaining speed towards the northerly winds remains critical. Frankie Clapcich on 11th Hour Racing noted that the team is focusing on finding optimal angles to navigate the low pressure, amidst wind conditions that are expected to increase soon.
In Class40, all boats are directed towards La Coruña, with the first ones expected to arrive soon. Achille Nebout and Gildas Mahé (Amarris) currently hold a slender lead with about 170 miles remaining. Spanish duo Pep Costa and Pablo Santurde (VSF Sports) have positioned themselves well in sixth place, poised for a strong finish.
The competitive spirit remains high, with stories emerging from the fleet that highlight the challenges and camaraderie encountered during the race, setting the stage for an exciting finish in La Coruña.
The tracking in live is here : https://www.transatcafelor.org/cartographie
#TransatCafeLOR #Sailing #OceanRacing #IMOCASeries #Class40 #SailingCommunity
More Offshore Sailing stories: Click here
