Défi Atlantique, start of the 2nd leg

Mathieu Claveau's good start

In accordance with the forecasts, the passage of a front at midday, accompanied by a little drizzle, saw the wind from the west settle on the starting zone anchored on the very edge of the port of Horta. At 13:00 local time, the Race Committee released the 13 Class40s and Mathieu Claveau (Prendre la Mer, Agir pour la forêt) started the race on starboard tack under full spinnaker towards the right side of the water and the island of Pico. Only the Italians of Alla Grande Pirelli (Ambrogio Beccaria, Alberto Riva and Gianluca Guelfi) tried their luck towards Faial, promptly returning on port tack under the cliffs of the island. Very quickly, all the Class40s headed north, this time on port tack, and as they fine-tuned, speeds reached 13 and 14 knots on the way.

A road paved with uncertainties

The 13 protagonists got off to the most peaceful start, on flat seas and with a nice light breaking through the clouds. The Class40s glided along at a comfortable 13 knots at portable speeds. A start that everyone will appreciate, as 1,300 miles of a complex route lie ahead. There is no doubt that from now on, each sailor will be avidly consulting the screens on board, in order to prepare the strategies to be put in place. Between the strengthening of a low to the North, the weakening of a high pressure system to the South, and numerous high pressure cells on the way, the trajectory to be drawn towards La Rochelle is proving to be one of the most nebulous as the Class40s leave the welcoming Horta.

Christian Dumard, weather expert: "A very tactical race"

The official meteorologist of the Atlantic Challenge gave his latest weather analysis to the racers this morning: "The race is shaping up to be very tactical, with many possible route options. There will be a lot of action and we risk seeing the fleet split up fairly quickly. The start will be very gentle, after the front passes through at the end of the morning. 8 to 12 knots of W'ly wind are expected in the area, accompanied by a little rain. The front is moving slowly eastwards and the Class40s will remain in its wake. To the north of the fleet, a low-pressure system will be building from Wednesday onwards, while the Azores High moves up towards the archipelago. It is in the vicinity of Cape Finisterre that the weather models are currently diverging, offering very different scenarios.

Source / GPO