The 9 Class40 teams competing in the prologue of the GLOBE40 were treated to a superb start on Thursday 4 September, which made up for the few days of waiting due to hurricanes and various storms. Marked emotion was palpable as they departed from the pontoon of LORIENT LA BASE, filled with spectators for this significant moment in their journey around the globe.
On the water, they faced 25 knots of wind under a bright sun, with a heavy sea resulting from recent storms. The start was cautious, as competitors adhered to race management instructions, influenced by a previous incident at the 2022 edition. The coastal course featuring a buoy at the Pointe du Talud was quickly navigated at around fifteen knots before heading south-west, leaving the island of Groix and the Pen Men lighthouse to port.
A nice surprise was the presence of Michel Desjoyaux and Alexandre Legallais, who came to greet the start of GLOBE40 aboard their new Class40 n°210 40 AGITÉ, adding a touch of excitement to the event.
As they headed towards Cape Finisterre, the wind weakened to around ten knots or less in the evening and overnight. The first groups formed, with CREDIT MUTUEL and BELGIUM OCEAN RACING – CURIUM taking turns leading the race. Other notable competitors included the young team NEXT GENERATION BOATING AROUND THE WORLD and the female crew of ENGIE DESSINE MOI LA HIGH TECH, both not far behind. The five competitors on the point side were also closely positioned, with FREE DOM facing its best rival from the CIC NORMANDY CHANNEL RACE, JANGADA RACING, followed by BARCO BRAZIL, WILSON AROUND THE WORLD, and WHISKEY JACK, who were getting familiar with the first foil touches.
After a calm period overnight, the wind returned from the east, allowing the Class40s to regain speed at around ten knots towards the north-western tip of Spain. According to weather forecasts, a new front is expected tomorrow, bringing winds of 30-35 knots, but skippers are only anticipated to endure these challenging conditions for a few hours.
The wind then shifted north-west, enabling a fast downwind descent along the Spanish and Portuguese coasts. Despite lighter winds for half of the initial period, they had already covered 200 miles in 24 hours. The estimated time of arrival for the first boat in Cadiz is still expected on the evening of Monday, 8 September.
Additionally, the virtual GLOBE40 on the famous game VIRTUAL REGATTA started simultaneously, with over 10,000 players already registered.
SIRIUS EVENEMENTS contact@sirius-events.com www.globe40.com
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