Split fleet in Brest Atlantiques

(November 25, 2019; Day 21) – After almost three weeks at sea, the three Ultim 32/23 Class trimarans still racing on 14,000nm Brest Atlantiques are continuing towards the equator, which they should cross in three days.

While all the teams have followed a fairly similar route until now, MACIF yesterday decided to head in a more westerly direction, a decision which puts François Gabart and Gwénolé Gahinet 650 miles behind the current leader, Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, but a move they hope will benefit them by the end of the week.

“We were faced with two options: the first, to sail almost directly north downwind in fairly calm conditions, which is what our competitors have done, and the second, to cross a high pressure zone in the search of stronger winds,” explained the MACIF duo.

“Our aim was to cross this front and make progress sailing towards the west, and then pick up the trade wind again from a better angle. Although it’s more complicated, with more manoeuvres and sail changes, this route seems like it will be faster. But it’s all about taking risks and this is the first time since leaving Brest that we’ve really changed our strategy. This makes it more exciting and adds suspense to the race.”

Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, who at 3pm today had a 245 mile lead over Actual Leader, are looking closely at the route MACIF are now following.

“We saw MACIF gybe and head southwest, which obviously has them now on a totally different route from everyone else,” notes leader Franck Cammas. “There’s a front about 1,000 miles away from us, which, if they manage to cross through and come out the other side, may allow them to get ahead. That said, it’s not going to be a simple route, they’re going to have to work hard.

“MACIF’s alternative route doesn’t change anything for us, we’re not in the same place at the same time and the best route for them may not necessarily be the same for us. It’s not worth following their decision to head southwest.”

All will be revealed by the end of the week….

DNF: Thomas Coville and Jean-Luc Nélias retired on November 22 while in Cape Town when it was determined that the damages to Sodebo Ultim 3 were too serious to carry on safely. Details.

Event details – Race brochure – Tracker – YouTube

The race sends these doublehanded speedsters on a course from Brest that will turn at Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and Cape Town (South Africa) before returning to Brest. The Ultim Class is for trimarans with a maximum length of 32 meters and a maximum width of 23 meters.

The turning marks will see the boats leave to port the chain of Cagarras Islands, in front of the famous Ipanema beach in the Bay of Rio and Robben Island off the coast of Cape Town, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years.

It is an unprecedented course, lined with several weather traps, especially along The Cape, a route almost never taken in offshore racing.

Each entry will be skippered by four fantastic pairs and accompanied by a media man who is not allowed to take an active role in the performance of the boat. The teams are:

• Actual Leader: Yves Le Blévec/Alex Pella
• Maxi Edmond de Rothschild: Franck Cammas/Charles Caudrelier
• MACIF: François Gabart/Gwénolé Gahinet
• Sodebo Ultim 3: Thomas Coville/Jean-Luc Nélias

Source: BREST ULTIM SAILING