The ambition to have all four racing classes on the TRANSAT CAFÉ L’OR finish in Martinique is very much under threat because of the unusually complicated weather patterns on the Atlantic. The 2023 race is proving a real challenge to skippers and race organisers alike.
The ULTIMs have had their course shortened and are now heading directly to Martinique after the Saint Peter and Saint Paul islands mark, which leader SVR Lazartigue will pass soon. The Ocean Fifty fleet sees Manu Le Roch and Basile Bourgnon maintain a 20-mile lead over Edenred 5. Jérémie Beyou and Morgan Lagravière lead the IMOCA fleet on Charal, while Luca Rossetti and Matteo Sericano (Maccaferri Futura) are leading the pack, heading west, upwind.
The ULTIM fleet has faced slow, difficult Doldrums marked by squalls and random shifts. However, SVR Lazartigue has managed to open a significant lead of 150 miles over Thomas Coville and Benjamin Schwarz (Sodebo 3) and Anthony Marchand and Julien Villion (Actual 3). Despite their position, Banque Populaire XI has struggled, now trailing by over 330 miles.
Tom Laperche from SVR reported extensive energy expenditure over the past 24 hours due to constant manoeuvring. The crew changed almost all sails and managed some rest between high-speed stretches. The team is feeling a bit fatigued but maintaining good spirits.
The Ocean Fifty trimarans are making modest speeds at the northern fringes of the Doldrums while heading towards Martinique. Edenred, positioned further south, still holds a small lead. Edenred’s Manu Le Roch expressed uncertainty about their positioning, weighing the optimal strategy against strong winds fluctuating between 3 and 22 knots.
In the IMOCA division, Beyou and Lagravière on Charal have capitalised on their recent gybe, pulling about 41 miles ahead of their competitors. Sam Goodchild and Loïs Berrehar (MACIF Santé Prévoyance) noted their position could have been better had they not lost ground during a wind shift.
CLASS 40 participants are also racing with varied strategies, as Luca Rossetti and Matteo Sericano (Maccaferri Futura) have taken an early lead following a technical stop. Rossetti remarked on the tactical complexities ahead, with ongoing weather challenges and a competitive fleet.
Spanish team Pep Costa and Pablo Santurde are navigating tricky conditions, hoping for a favourable windshift, as they hold the most northern position in the fleet. Costa highlighted the current challenges due to strong winds and significant wave action.
Patience seems crucial for those in the northern route, as Tom Dolan pointed out, mentioning potential advantages for boats sailing west. Meanwhile, Sanni Beucke is managing her knee injury and adapting to the conditions, explaining the difficulties of moving swiftly on board.
Overall, the current state of racing remains unpredictable, with all classes facing strategic and tactical challenges as they progress toward Martinique.
The tracking in live is here : https://www.transatcafelor.org/cartographie
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