17.05.2010
Time for the big manœuvres!
The 10 Class 40s competing in the Normandy Channel Race are already making
headway along the South coast of England. In a little over 24 hours of
racing, they’ve devoured 200 miles. The initial stages of this competition
involved a high speed sprint across the Channel, but things proved much more
difficult as they attempted to get across the Solent. “Destination
Dunkerque” is at the head of the fleet with a 9.9 mile lead over “40
Degrees” and 10.3 miles ahead of “Moonpalace”.
Playing the current!
The fleet in this first edition of the Normandy Channel Race has now split
into three groups, with 40 miles separating the first and last competitors.
Following a very good start to the race, Dunkirk sailors Ruyant and Leglatin
are in pole position offshore of Portland on England’s South coast. They
have a slender lead over the wily Mabire and Harding on “40 Degrees”, who
are tacking their way down the coast with “Appart City”. Meantime the crew
of “Moonpalace” are adopting an intermediary position. At present
competitors are making headway upwind in 10 to 12 knots of breeze, trying to
negotiate the varying degrees of current! The war of nerves is very much in
evidence amongst the top four and it appears that those who’re favouring the
inshore track have more wind pressure and less current.
Tanguy De Lamotte and Jean Galfione, Nick Legatt and Philippa Hutton-Squire,
are 20 miles behind the leaders, struggling to extract themselves from the
fickle conditions reigning along the English coast.
At the back of the pack it was a tough morning for some with the boats
skippered by Marc Lepesqueux, Jacques Fournier, Christophe Coatnoan and
Andrew Dawson arriving in the fabulous waters of the Solent a little too
late, resulting in them being unable to make headway against the current.
Early this afternoon though they were back on track and the competition is
still wide open as light airs are expected and there is 12 hours’ sailing
ahead before reaching Lizard Point.
Firing on all cylinders on night one!
Having left France’s Calvados region yesterday at 1400 hours, the
competitors powered off towards the island of Saint-Marcouf. By early
evening they’d covered 37 miles and rounded the first course mark after a
few good hours of close-hauled sailing. “Destination Dunkerque” skippered by
Thomas Ruyant and Tanguy Leglatin headed the fleet. Indeed the winner of the
last Transat 6.50 couldn’t conceal his delight as he traversed the English
Channel. “We’re sailing under small spinnaker. There is 17 knots of breeze
and we’re making 12 knots of boat speed. It’s going to be a beautiful
night”. Roeland Franssens and Michel Kleinjans on “Moonpalace” were hot on
their heels aboard their Pogo 40S, as were English skipper Peter Harding and
his co-skipper from Cherbourg, Halvard Mabire aboard “40 Degrees”, the
latter the authors of a splendid comeback. On a reach, the competitors in
this first edition of the Normandy Channel Race sent their speedos into
turmoil until the daybreak. Once into the Solent however, the wind eased as
forecast, and the leaders had to contend with the weak current as best they
could. “We slipped effortlessly through the Solent with the current on our
tail the whole time” said Halvard Mabire. However, the same could not be
said of the latecomers “Groupe Partouche”, “Marie Toit” and “Groupe Picoty”
spent many an hour with the current right on the nose, waiting for
conditions to become more favourable. “Novedia – Initiatives” skippered by
Tanguy De Lamotte and Jean Galfione even had to drop anchor so as not to go
backwards! A tricky section with serious consequences for some then.
Quotes from the noon radio session:
Thomas Ruyant: “We’re stumbling against the current right now so we’re
having to work on our trimming so as to find some decent speed. In the
afternoon we’ll have the current with us. At the start we managed to get
ahead of our rivals. We were keen to be in phase with the current from the
outset in Caen. There was an initial tricky section at Barfleur and then
another in the Solent. The next stage in the proceedings is likely to be
difficult. We’ve already slept a fair amount so as to be fresh for tonight’s
activities”.
Halvard Mabire: “In the Solent this morning we found ourselves doing a spot
of jogging on a big moving walkway and we’re still getting nowhere fast.
Fortunately we’ve ended up in the leading group and the setting is sublime.
We can see “Appart City”. Last night we got caught up with a lobster pot,
which slowed us down a bit but didn’t cause any damage.”
Marc Lepesqueux: “Fine weather, smooth seas, small cumulus and the current
against us… We haven’t had to drop anchor but we came close to it. “Spliff”
really got away from us but they are in home waters. We had a very bad
night. With halyard problems, light airs and the current against us, you
certainly don’t have time to get cold”.
Tanguy De Lamotte: “I was just having a little siesta as we haven’t slept
much since the start. Our electronics have packed up, which is annoying but
we’ll make do. We’ve made it across the Solent and the décor is superb”.
Sylvie Viant, Race Director: “Competitors will tack their way along the
coast with the current coming at them one way or another according to the
tides. They’ll take around 12 hours to reach Lizard Point with about 10
knots of boat speed in a SW’ly wind”.
Follow the Normandy Channel Race by visiting:
http://www.normandy-race.com/, with an
official ranking available online each day at 5, 8, 11, 15 and 1900 hours
Translated by Kate Jennings – Expression
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