The Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6.50 - Ruyant all the way

by Sail-World.com amended on 20 Oct 2009
Thomas Ruyant (Faber France) has left the archipelago of Fernando do Noronha to starboard (right). He has passed the archipelago at full speed reaching 12.02 knots between the two positioning calls.

Francois Cuinet (Plan Jardin) continues to push his Plan Bouvet 2002, is now 74 miles behind Ruyant. Bertrand Delesne (Entreprendre durablement) and Stéphane Le Diraison (Cultisol-Marins sans frontières) must make their move, it is now or never for these sailors.

Thomas Ruyant has managed to establish a gap of almost 100 miles between himself and the fifth placed boat.

Maybe the first stage of the race turned into Francisco Lobato’s (ROFF TMN), 'one boat show' , but this not the case for the second!

1.48 miles separate the Portuguese still in pole position from Charlie Dalin (cherche sponsor charliedalin.com) who is fighting back. Very soon, Dalin will grab first place from Lobato, as he must head to the southeast and get back on a direct route, as the archipelago Fernando do Noronha sits in the middle of his current heading.

In third place, Ricardo Apolloni (Ma Vie pour Mapei) continues to hang onto the leaders and is 25 miles behind the duo. The Italian has been able to establish 20 miles between himself and the group of his pursuers. In that group are Fabien Sellier (Surfrider Foundation), Mathis Prochasson (Manupoki Avico), after a fantastic comeback, as well as Antoine Debled (Regionsjob.com), Xavier Macaire (Masoco Bay), Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian), Matthieu Galland (Groupe Setec) and Sébastien Rogues (Eole Generation- GDF SUEZ). they are all close and withing each other's sights.

Ten boats continue to suffer in the Doldrums... Paradoxically, there are more Prototypes still caught than Series. Among those that are still 'stuck' are Izabel Pimentel, Fabrice Germond, Staale Jordan, Carolina Vieille and Maxence Desfeux, who brings up the rear at 8°27 North. In the Series class Emmanuel Laurent is at 8°52 North.

ETA: Estimated Time of Arrival - Positioning - 3 pm - Thomas Ruyant (Faber France) is expected in Salvador de Bahia on Thursday the 22nd of October in the morning.

Ranking at 3 pm, on Monday the 19th of October

Series:
1 - Francisco Lobato (ROFF TMN) 861.92 miles from the finish
2 - Charlie Dalin (cherche sponsor charliedalin.com) 1.48 miles from the leader
3 - Ricardo Apolloni (Ma Vie pour Mapei) 24.66 miles of the leader
4 - Fabien Sellier (Surfrider Foundation) 49.53 miles leader
5 - Mathis Prochasson (Manupoki-Avico) 59.86 miles of the leader

Prototypes:
1 - Thomas Ruyant (Faber France) 630.14 miles from the finish
2 - Henri-Paul Schipman (Maisons de l'avenir Urbatys) 65.68 miles of the leader
3 - François Cuinet (Plan jardin) 73.43 miles of the leader
4 - Bertrand Delesne (Entreprendre Durablement) 87.01 miles behind the leader.
5 - Stéphane Le Diraison (Cultisol Marins sans frontière) 90.44 miles of the leader