Kevin Escoffier ready for Route du Rhum Destination Guadeloupe debut on Holcim-PRB
by Team Holcim - PRB 8 Nov 2022 18:04 EST
9 November 2022
Kevin Escoffier ready for Route du Rhum Destination Guadeloupe © Julien Champolion / polaRYSE / Holcim-PRB
Initially scheduled for Sunday 6 November at 13:02 hours local time before being postponed due to weather conditions, the 12th Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe will finally set sail tomorrow, Wednesday 9 November at 14:15 hours, with the weather forecast to be a lot more favourable.
- Holcim-PRB will leave the dock at 17:40hrs today.
- Passage through the lock at 18:05hrs.
- The start of the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe will be given tomorrow Wednesday 9th November at 14:15hours.
During the wait, Kevin Escoffier has stuck firmly to his pre-race routine. Utterly focused, he has continued to work on his physical fitness, have daily briefings with his team and study the grib files with Pascal Bidégorry and Marcel Van Triest. At 10:00 hours this morning, the organisation once again gathered together the entire fleet for a final briefing and shared the latest instructions before the boats head back out of the basin in Saint Malo. Holcim-PRB will pass through the lock at 18:05 hours before mooring up for the night.
Tomorrow's weather is now clear and Kevin is set to take his first Route du Rhum start in mild conditions. Though there is less stress on the cards then, this is still an important phase with 138 boats due to cross the start line off Saint Malo at the same time.
The first few hours of racing will be key. The English Channel and the passage around the north-west tip of Brittany will be coloured by a strong current, which he'll have to try to play to best effect. From that point, it will be a question of lining himself up in relation to the zone of high pressure. The first to latch onto downwind conditions to the south of this high pressure will doubtless have an advantage over their rivals.
Explanations from Kevin Escoffier:
What weather conditions are expected at the start and for the first 24/48 hours of racing?
"At the start, the weather files are fairly varied. If everything goes to plan, conditions will be manageable with an upwind start in around 15 to 20 knots of breeze. The current will play an important role, especially in the passage around the north-west tip of Brittany. Around 48 hours after the start, level with the Bay of Biscay, we will have to contend with our first front. It won't be especially violent, but nor will it be particularly easy to negotiate as there is precious little breeze behind the front. Following that, depending on the routing, the game plan is to get in as much southing as possible to target the southern edge of the Azores High, which is in the process of plumping out again on the back of the depression we've just seen roll through. These conditions mean that I feel more confident, but I still have to anticipate this first front correctly. The main aim is to succeed in being amongst the leading pack to the south of the zone of high pressure to hitch a ride in the trade wind system and quickly set off downwind. The start to the race will be very important. "
Isn't it overly complicated to stay focused on your race with this delayed start?
"We're used to this type of situation. It's not the first time it's happened. I geared myself up to be ready from Sunday at 13:02 hours. The start is tomorrow, so it's essential not to lose focus and to maintain the same pre-race rhythm, particularly in terms of physical fitness and studying the weather conditions. With the delayed start, we have fewer appointments with partners and media, which means we can focus solely on the race."
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