Chi va piano va sano – Little Italian score at start of Leg two

by www.lessables-lesacores.com on 18 Aug 2010 Andrea Caracci (Speedy Maltese) has decided to leave to anyone else to play the opening of this second leg. Without fanfare, the Italian skipper took advantage of light air to extricate himself at the exit of the Bay of Horta. Behind him, the hunt was organised.

Light wind, flat sea, sky down: the Azores really did not offer their best face for the start of the second leg. As if the skippers have to leave with minimum regret after one heavenly week between hiking, island tours and observations of whales, without forgetting evenings at Peter Café Sport.

On the pontoons, the emotion was palpable, even if the start of a second leg is not tainted with the same dramatic intensity as the first jump into the unknown. Everyone knows he has already done half way, pressure from friends and families is less strong, and the skipper’s community has had time to grow together for several weeks spent together. Still, the moment of casting off is never totally harmless. Some disguise their emotion on false airs jokers, while others concentrated in their bubble seem already gone elsewhere.

Leeward route, ahead road
On the starting line directly downwind give, without degagement buoy, two choices emerged: from the committee boat on the starboard side, hoping the wind a little more support or leave from the buoy and assuming a more favourable angle relative to downwind. This second choice was paying off: Andrea Caracci (Speedy Maltese) got the better of Milan Kolacek (Follow Me) and Jean-Marc Allaire (Baker Tilly AG2R La Mondiale) at the helm of his Pogo 2 that stood up to the two prototypes.

Windward, the situation was less clear: Robert Rosenjacobson (NED 602) a little early on the line, had to luff to stop his boat under penalty of steal the start. Behind him, a compact group made its way from where climbed rapidly Thomas Normand (Financière de l’Echiquier), Jorg Riechers (mare.de) and a little further back Lucas Montagne (ONG Conseil) and Paul Marette (Region Nord Pas de Calais).

In series, the two favorites were marked downwind of the fleet, Xavier Macaire (Starter) containing the onslaught of Davy Beaudart (Innovation Environnement). The rest of the fleet was already somewhat distanced except Amaury Francois (amauryfrancois.com), on an intermediate position. The only one of the middle group to get out while the going is good. Sébastien Rogues (EOLE Generation GDF Suez) on his speed, returning in the leading pack.

Record to break
This departure in light airs without prejudice of what awaits the fleet in the coming days. One thing is certain: the absolute record of the event is now trembling on its foundations. Indeed, the latest weather forecasts have already undermined the routing models which required the fleet to go far north to find wind.

The high pressure area of the Azores is sagging abruptly and opens the way to the low pressure areas that should propel the fleet at great speed towards Les Sables d'Olonne. Above all, it seems that the situation becomes clearer in the Gulf of Biscay and the arrival becomes, in navigation, simpler than it seemed even twenty-four hours earlier. Something to say Bertrand Delesne Bertrand (Prati'Buches): 'The routing to eight days is good, provided you know how to get out ...' Word of wisdom.

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