Oceanracing 2004 - Transat Québec-Saint Malo

Transat Québec-Saint Malo - 6th edition
Start 11.07.2004 - www.quebecsaintmalo.com - zur Übersicht

12.07.2004
Sergio Tacchini Leading the Fleet...
« We’ve been sailing under gennaker since the start making one gybe after another » explains Armel Le Cléac’h, navigator on Foncia and recent winner of the Transat AG2R. A pattern that has been common across the whole fleet at the beginning of this Transat Québec-Saint Malo where the difference is going to made in the analysis of the particular stretch of water and the rhythm of the manoeuvres. Second in the first ranking of the day at 0100 GMT this morning, the trimaran skippered by Alain Gautier was just 0.7 miles behind Gitana XI (ex-Belgacom) skippered by Fred Le Peutrec.

Rather a symbolic first ranking then with the first eleven Orma multihulls grouped into a zone spanning just 5 miles! All change though by 0500 GMT ranking with Sergio Tacchini heading the fleet, albeit by just 0.4 miles with Brit Brian Thompson and Irishman Damien Foxall crewing. Géant was in second with Gitana XI tailing by just 2 miles. Sodebo was still suffering a 48 mile deficit after returning to port just after yesterday’s start to repair six broken battens and Yves Parlier’s “Hydraplaneur” was disappointingly bringing up the rear of the Orma fleet with a 63.60 mile deficit after a great start yesterday...

Benoît Stichelbaut / Tacchini©

The essentials…
- Gitana XI, Foncia and Groupama were head of the first ranking this morning. 7 miles separated the frontrunner from the 4th, Sopra Group, at 0100 GMT. By 0500 GMT it was all change with Sergio Tacchini, Géant and Gitana XI running the show, with just 2.6 miles separating the top four.

- The Orma multihulls are continuously overtaking and being overtaken, with play being broken up by regular gybes along the Saint-Laurent river. There is still a wind blowing across the fleet from the south-west at 15/20 knots.

- As regards the 50 footers, Crêpes Whaou ! is the class leader for the multihulls, albeit with an advance of just 0.80 miles on Jean Stalaven at 0500 GMT, with veteran Mike Birch just 12 miles back in 4th. MarinaFortLouis- Ile de Saint Martin heads the Class 2 monohull fleet.

« The boats are racing along at 20 knots under gennaker and we’ve still got a fair amount of wind contrary to what was forecast at the start » said Armel Le Cléac’h, confined to the chart table since yesterday’s start. « It’s going fairly quickly for the moment and we still have 15 to 20 knots of south-westerly, right on the axis of the Saint-Laurent ». Foncia, then 2nd in the first ranking of the day was playing cat and mouse on a grand scale. « It’s true that you have to find a balance between the currents, avoiding the calm zones, the other boats, the things that are floating on the water, and anticipate the gybes well ». A complicated equation which makes the navigation more complex but devilishly interesting… « The solution ? You need to have good tactics and play the currents well. You also have to be very wary about heading into a windless zone » explains Frank-Yves Escoffier, current leader of the 50 foot multihull fleet on Crêpes Whaou ! « In addition I’m touching wood to make sure I don’t touch any! ». A wise move considering the scores of floating logs in the river, hidden in the then darkness…

Meantime Hugues Destremau on Géant was a happy man in 4th position at 0100 GMT this morning : « It’s been a fantastic regatta since the start! We’re all within contact. We haven’t managed to rest yet but it won’t be long now. We’re soon going to head right at the bend in the Saint-Laurent and then we can change sail and hoist the Solentwhich will require less manœuvres. There is no question of working to a watch system while we’re still on the Saint-Laurent though! ».

heading off in two separate groups late yesterday afternoon European time, the fleet of Orma and Class 2 multihulls are positively steaming across the water in the slightest breath of air. Sergio Tacchini was clocked making 22 knots of instantaneous speed this morning. Gitana XI skippered by Fred Le Peutrec was then leading the dance but the criss-crossing in the rankings is set to continue throughout the descent to the Bay of the Saint-Laurent. Difficult to predict the leading trio at the gateway to the Atlantic 280 miles away at 0100 GMT...Easy to say that it will be intriguing...
Translated/Written Kate Jennings