23.05.2008
Positionstabelle 23.05.08
23.05.2008
Day 13: History in the making
- Loick Peyron expected to cross the finish line in Boston http://theartemistransat.com/60/article.asp?sid=9695 tonight (21:00 local time / 01:00 GMT)
- Peyron and Tabarly are the only skippers to have won the event twice... A third victory would make history http://theartemistransat.com/60/article.asp?sid=13951
- Gitana Eighty looking at a new race record?
- Armel Le Cléac'h and Brit Air only 33 miles behind!
- Yann Elies's 376 miles run in 24 hours unlikely to be bettered
All of the latest positions, breaking news and video features updated daily at www.theartemistransat.com http://www.theartemistransat.com
Expected tonight around 21:00 local time (4:00 GMT), Loick Peyron looks to be on his way towards a third victory on the North Atlantic, and should become the first skipper to better Eric Tabarly's performance. Still very concentrated when we spoke to him this morning, Gitana Eighty's skipper knows Armel Le Cléac'h is very close behind him, and one cannot expect a relieved smile on Loick's face before the line is crossed and left in the boat's wake. Of course, who'd blame him? Extreme carefulness is part of Loick's style, and the experienced racer knows better than anyone that... it's not over until it's over.
Wise, trusting his intuitions, always listening to his boat... Loick Peyron sailed The Artemis Transat in his unmistakable trademark style, taking an early lead and thus a psychological ascendant on his rivals, displaying both boat speed and tactical inspiration. Always reindexing in the leading pack, observing and preparing his longer-term strategy, Gitana Eighty has always been considered a serious threat, and Peyron's status as race favourite did not put any pressure on his shoulders - only on his rivals. Having won the two last editions of the race he took part in (1992 and 1996), the amazing Breton multihull wizard was this year returning aboard a monohull, only to prove his fantastic talent is valid whatever the boat. Very focused when we spoke to him this morning, Loick was 100% in race mode, which somehow also reveals how much he's weary of his pursuer... The final sprint of The Artemis Transat certainly proves captivating!
"This is our last day in the Transat, which is always a bit sad, said Peyron, because it's the last day at sea. At the moment it's not very nice, everything is grey, humid and cold, but in a few hours I hope we'll arrive in Boston. Right now we are leading the race by 20 miles, which is not enough because the wind is not exactly in the good direction to be sure we can reach the line on one tack. If I have to tack... the race is not finished yet! " Asked if he thought a safety tack might prove necessary, he replied: "Maybe, the next position might show he has already tacked so depends on his position. Wind is a little bit more right [NW] and increasing but not easy to know what will happen - if it goes more right and increases its okay - if not, we might have to make 2 tacks, one now and one later. The tack I am now is perfect to make the finish line so we don't know now and that is what makes it complicated." Regarding a possible third victory he declared "I know a race has to be finished first before it can be won!"
Aboard Brit Air, Armel Le Cléac'h sounded equally concentrated, but could already enjoy the good work done so far - the young skipper has undoubtedly every right to be satisfied with his impressive second position. Armel, who celebrated his 31st birthday on the day of the start of The Artemis Transat in Plymouth 12 days ago, has already entered the big boys' league! His comments: "We crossed the longitude of South Nova Scotia last night, it was a bit complicated with the fog and the shifting winds, but I got out of it eventually. I should be able to reach the line on one tack, with a wind that should shift to the right (NW), but I have to reindex careful because there is a lot of traffic, and we still have significant wind at the moment (Ed note: this morning). There is also the fatigue we accumulated that we have to take into account, it's not the right moment to let the level of vigilance drop (...) It's been great to be able to confront the best boats during almost two weeks in this race, and especially Gitana Eighty at the end: she's a reference in terms of speed, and her skipper is very consistent, and to see we're finishing only a few hours behind after 13 days is a great satisfaction for the team."
If the two leading boats are very close and should cross the line within a couple of hours of each other, Yann Elies and Generali are expected to arrive tomorrow afternoon. Having sailed a very good race and leading on day 3, Yann paid the price of his northern option before crossing the ice gate - a choice that proved costly in terms of miles, yet the perspective of a place on the podium is more than satisfactory for the Breton, whose boat proved fast - his 24-hours run of 376 miles is unlikely to be bettered before the whole fleet reaches Boston. In 4th place, Marc Guillemot and Safran should cross the line on Sunday, while the battle rages on for 5th place: 4 boats are currently fighting very closely, and the situation will not be clear before Monday.
A race record on the cards for Peyron
To break Mike Golding's 2004 IMOCA Open 60 record of 12 days, 15 hours, 18 minutes and 08 seconds, the winning boat must cross the Boston finish line by 04:17:08 GMT on Saturday morning (24th May) but Loick Peyron also has a time allowance of 2 hours 30 minutes awarded by the jury, following Vincent Riou's rescue.
1964: Tabarly's first victory kickstarts France's love affair with solo sailing
One has to remember the historical importance of Tabarly's first win in the OSTAR, which allowed for the subsequent development of France's solo racing scene. Being compared, as it is the case today for Peyron, to such an iconic figure is anything but benign... Here is a little reminder of Tabarly's first win... and peculiar character.
"With his victory, Tabarly became an overnight hero and for his endeavour was presented with his country's highest honour, the Legion d'Honneur by President de Gaulle. Nevertheless, the skipper never lost sight of his priorities, and declined the first presidential invitation because the ceremony coincided with the day he had intended to repaint his boat! A few month later, a somewhat begrudged De Gaulle sent another invitation, in the following terms: "I would be delighted to be able to count on your presence. if the tide is favourable of course."
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