Crossfit Altantique
Djemila Tassin
“It’s seriously rough out here!” says Ulysse Pozzoli aboard Renovatec Sailing Team. A big swell is allowing the boats to string together some great surfs, but these lively, demanding conditions are putting both sailors and boats through their paces. The slamming is relentless, the boats are taking a real beating and the spinnakers are under considerable strain.
Gaëtan Thomas (Braco Brasil) found that out the hard way last night. “The spinnaker blew up. I managed to retrieve the torn pieces of sailcloth, but the radar was ripped off and a stanchion bent… It’s a complete mess! Hauling in 160 square metres of sailcloth dragging in the water at boat speed is two hours of intense CrossFit. At least we’re getting a workout!”
And he’s not the only one finding these conditions tough going. “We’ve been hammering along under spinnaker for nearly 36 hours now. It’s hard work!” admits Sasha Lanièce. The skipper of Aldéran is almost beginning to miss her sofa. Fortunately, a little note she found on board this morning gave her a much-needed boost: “Tough times don’t last, tough people do.”
Damage and difficult decisions
In these rough seas, the consequences can be far more serious than a torn spinnaker. After Quentin Le Nabour (Bleu Blanc Planète Location) dismasted on the first day of the race, Vincent Riou (Pierreval – Fondation GoodPlanet) has suffered a failure of his J1 forestay fitting and is now heading for La Coruña.
Fabien Delahaye (Legallais) is also making for the Spanish port, having seriously injured his ankle this morning. The skipper has had to make the difficult decision to retire, much to his disappointment:
“I can’t put any weight on my foot. I’ve decided to head for La Coruña. I’m gutted, but that’s how it is – I have no choice. I can’t see any reasonable way of continuing.”
Staying on course… and finding the right way through
Up front, the race is still unfolding at a fast pace. Luca Rosetti (Maccaferri Futura) is enjoying this kind of sailing and feels particularly comfortable at this speed. The skipper is pleased with both his start to the race and his routing so far, while knowing that he will need to remain alert.
Beyond the immediate conditions, however, the sailors are already looking ahead. The weather models that will guide their next decisions are not yet offering a completely clear picture. Guillaume Pirouelle (Sogestran – Seafrigo), who has opted for a middle route, is finding it difficult to choose between the different options: “It’s still hard to get a clear picture with such uncertain forecasts. Nobody knows for sure which route to take.”
Sophie Faguet (Défi Solidaire avec Ellye et l’Arche) is also anticipating a tricky next stage: “The outlook is complicated, with 30 knots forecast. We’ll have to find a little gap to squeeze through!”
For now, then, there is no sign of conditions easing.
A little comfort in the midst of the storm
In the middle of this Atlantic turmoil, everyone is also looking for a little comfort wherever they can find it. Kéni Piperol (Drépavoile) was lamenting this morning the unfortunate flight of his freeze-dried meal all the way to the bottom of the boat!
After two days of barely eating, Jean-Baptiste Ternon has finally found something to help him recharge his batteries: “I haven’t eaten much over the past two days. So this morning, we’re treating ourselves to a little Pyrenean cheese. And each packet comes with a little note from my family!”
A thoughtful touch that must taste all the sweeter in the middle of the Atlantic.
