Transat Jacques Vabre: Nov 2 - Ultims pass Porto Santo
by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com/nz 2 Nov 2023 02:05 PDT
Sodebo Ultim 3, at sunrise, skippers Thomas Coville and Thomas Rouxel - Transat Jacques Vabre, November 01, 2023 © Team Sodebo
The Ultim maxi fleet has passed the first turning point in the 2023 TransAt Jacques Vabre - albeit at just above walking pace, hitting a cracking 4-5kts as they approached Porto Santo, one of two populated islands in the Madeira group.
Over the past 24 hours the five 105ft trimarans have closed up, and are now spread 30nm wide as they head for the next course mark - the islands of Sao Paolo and Sao Pedro, in the South Atlantic, some 500 miles off the Horn of Brazil.
The four boats in the inshore group are now (0930hrs UTC on Nov 2) sailing at 13-16kts. Further out into the Atlantic, Maxi Banque Populaire XI (Armel Le Cléac'h and Sebastien Josse) have just taken over the lead, and are sailing at almost 25kts.
As the front runners left Porto Santo to starboard, Le Cléac'h and Josse opted to put in six tacks to pass between Porto Santo and São Vicente in the Madeira group, dropping from being lead boat by just over a 1nm to fifth and last - dropping 50nm on the then new race leader.
The bold move of spending their lead to avoid the wind shadow of São Vicente, paid off with Banque Populaire XI being the front runner seven hours later.
Race organisers continue to hold the Class 40 and IMOCA 60 fleets in Lorient and Le Harve respectively as Storm Ciarán batters UK and the Western Europe coast, with westerly winds averaging 50kts gusting 70kts being recorded off Lorient. The strong onshore winds and heavy seas are expected to continue until Monday.