AT THIS MORNING'S BRIEFING, RACE DIRECTOR FRANCIS LE GOFF EXPLAINED ALL THE TECHNICAL DETAILS OF THE START, WHICH IS CONFIRMED FOR TOMORROW SUNDAY FOR THE 95 CREWS IN THE FOUR CLASSES OF THE TRANSATLANTIC RACE JACQUES VABRE NORMANDIE LE HAVRE. CHRISTIAN DUMARD, THE RACE METEOROLOGIST, OUTLINED THE MENU THAT AWAITS THE COMPETITORS OVER THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF THE RACE. GIVEN THE VIOLENCE OF THE LOW-PRESSURE SYSTEM EXPECTED TO HIT THE BAY OF GASCONY ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY, IT HAS BEEN DECIDED THAT THE CLASS40S WILL RACE TO FORT-DE-FRANCE IN TWO LEGS, WITH A STOPOVER IN LORIENT.
The large amphitheatre of the docks of Le Havre was bathed in light this morning, but the briefing had the solemnity of the full editions of the Route du café. The 2023 vintage will obviously have this content if we believe the detailed weather files by Christian Dumard. The models still differ a little on the strength of the gusts and the timing of the passage of the fronts, but the overall scenario is as follows:
Stopover in Lorient The Base for Class40
On the other hand, the Class40s find themselves in a situation of blocking without possible escape. And when the race director announced in the second part of the briefing to the 44 crews selected in the amphitheatre of the Docks that they would compete in the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre in two stages, the round of applause left no doubt that everyone had anticipated the phenomenon. “A finish line will be set up in Lorient and we will organize a second start when the weather conditions allow us to sail safely to Fort-de-France,” said the race director. The start of this second stage will be given in fleet and the ranking established the finish in Martinique at the sum of the times of the two stages.”
Safety but sporting fairness, this wise decision nevertheless required to react very quickly for the organizer of the Coffee Route as explained in the briefing output Gildas Gautier, co-director general of the event: “When we discussed this hypothesis with SELLOR (ports of Lorient NDR) this morning, it immediately replied that it would make every effort to welcome all 44 Class40s safely. This agreement was a prerequisite to rethink the Class 40 course. All competitors will have a place reserved for Lorient La Base and we would like to warmly thank the ports of Lorient for their support.”
The words of the sailors at the end of the briefing:
Ambrogio Beccaria (Alla Grande Pirelli) : “I feel neither relief nor frustration. We were ready to go, even if it is a very wise decision for the whole fleet, which avoids endangering the slowest boats of the Class40. It’s a pretty smart way to keep the race intact. So let’s start with a big warm-up, we’re hot!”
Nicolas Andrieu (Alla Grande Pirelli) : «It changes a lot of things, starting with the course which will be much more coastal, as well as the intensity that we will put there. You’re going to have to give it all over 36 hours.”
Vincent Riou (Crosscall) : «I competed in the Transat Jacques Vabre solo, in doubles and now it takes the form of a stage race, let’s be crazy! What is certain is that going live on the initial route did not pass. This original decision is very acceptable. The important thing is that we do a race, I hope with 44 boats at the start of the second stage, and that we take pleasure. Now, we are waiting for the rules. On our side, we had impasses on the sails because we were going on a typical course. Will we have the right to change, or to play with a handicap? We don’t know yet. We start for a first sprint in a strong wind, with different paces and many more maneuvers. Psychologically, we had prepared for a certain process, now we have to understand things differently, and go back behind the computer.”
Source : Organisation Transat Jacques Vabre
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