Sunday, November 10, 2013
A good start to the race for Safran
As forecast, the voyage across the Bay of Biscay was very lively, but the outcome has been positive, as Marc and Pascal are up with the frontrunners after three days of racing. This was the clear goal they set themselves before the start.
Marc and Pascal have not eased off since the start of the transatlantic race last Thursday. After a series of tacks to get out of the English Channel, they had to reduce their sail down to two reefs in the indexsail and under ORC* as they passed through the front on Friday night, then gradually hoist more sail again in the rough conditions. Contacted by Race HQ this lunchtime, Marc Guillemot did not hide the fact that the start of the race has been far from relaxing. “We experienced a few technical difficulties, which meant we lost some time in the English Channel, but it was not disastrous for what lies ahead.”
Flirting with the edge of the high
Today (Sunday) it is under full sail – full indexsail and big spinnaker – that Safran is slipping along the coast of Portugal, pushed along by a NNW’ly air stream. “We have the wind from astern, and there are a few little tricks in terms of the trajectory, but it is also time to recharge our batteries, to get as much rest as we can to ensure we are clear-headed and able to find the right strategy for what comes next.” The weather is giving them a hand. By this evening, they will have gone down below the latitude of Lisbon and will be sailing on the southern side of the high. The airstream will veer NNE’ly and blow at around 20-25 knots. The pace, which is already quick, will get even faster. Marc and Pascal will be spending a lot of hours at the helm to make the most of these ideal conditions. They are set to last to beyond the Cape Verde Islands (which are still 1500 miles ahead) according to the latest weather forecasts.
Position in the 1400hrs rankings on 10th November 2013: Safran 4th 23 miles from the leader Macif, at 40°21 North and 10°28 West. Average speed 11.1 knots. 4628 miles from the finish in Itajaí.
For more information, www.safran-group.com
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