Changes to the DRHEAM CUP Course

Sophie Faguet (175 – Défi Solidaire avec Elly et l'Arche) explains the new route:

"We'll head straight from Les Pierres Noires, off Cap Lévi, to the Fastnet Rock. It should be a fast downwind leg, which is pretty good, although the weather models still don't fully agree on the wind strength, with some unstable conditions expected in the Celtic Sea. Then we'll head south to round the DRHEAM Cup mark, which has been moved slightly southwest of Fastnet. From there, we'll sail directly to BXA before heading back up to Lorient. It's a simplified course, but it's still long and demanding! The good news is that we should get through before the worst of the weather arrives. Considering that qualifying for the Route du Rhum remains everyone's main objective, that's probably a good thing. It doesn't mean we'll have an easy ride, but it should make things a little simpler."

Whether simpler or not, the new scenario is not exactly what Ian Lipinski (202 – Crédit Mutuel) had hoped for. He had already put together a well-thought-out strategy for the original course.

"I literally just found out about the course change, and I can't say I'm thrilled. I had a little plan for the previous course… Well, I guess it's time to come up with a new one!"

The Lorient skipper is nevertheless looking forward to the conditions ahead:

"The forecast still looks pretty nice for the trip to Fastnet: plenty of wind, downwind sailing, and a few thunderstorms on the way back."

After completing a round-the-world voyage, Ian Lipinski returns to the Class40 circuit with renewed ambitions:

"I've obviously gained experience with the boat and built confidence. We've also improved our sail inventory, so we're starting this season with a fresh set of sails. This race will be a great opportunity to see how everything performs and where we stand compared to the rest of the fleet. We started off a bit on the back foot because it took time to get the most out of our new boat. We hope we've made progress and, either way, it'll be a good benchmark."

It's going to be one to watch!

The 37 Class40 skippers will now spend the afternoon studying the latest weather forecasts and analysing the revised course. One thing is certain: the action on the water promises to be spectacular, much to the delight of Michel Desjoyeaux, who has chartered his boat (190) to Alexis Thomas:

"There's real depth and quality in this year's DRHEAM-CUP fleet, with 37 Class40s on the start line. It's the final major dress rehearsal before the Route du Rhum, so naturally almost everyone is here, which is fantastic, along with a few newcomers joining the fleet."

"The course should offer a bit of everything: downwind, reaching, upwind, breeze, light airs... It's going to be great to follow!"

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