Transat Jacques-Vabre 2011

[Doug Lord]

From Scuttlebutt Europe today:

Transat Jacques Vabre Countdown

Four days before the start of the tenth edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre, the biennial Transatlantic race from Le Havre to Costa Rica, the weather picture for the crucial early days of the course is increasingly starting to preoccupy the minds of the 36 duos (13 IMOCA,16 Class 40, 7 Multi 50) which will compete. As is often the case with the North Atlantic in November stormy conditions seem increasingly likely. After a quiet couple of days, some taking time away from Le Havre, though the Autumn sunshine painted a perfect picture over the still waters of the Paul Vatine Basin, the skippers' had to turn their attentions to the issue this afternoon's extensive safety briefing.

Memories of the rescue of Sebastien Josse and Jean-Francois Cuzon off the Azores during the 2009 race are a reminder that such briefings have a vital practical value when required. Some will have sat through a dozen such briefings but accumulating the knowledge to ensure that procedures and processes become second nature is appreciated by even the most experienced skippers. And, building the safety knowledge of the crews significantly increases the safety and security of the professionals who undertake such rescues in very difficult conditions. Such were the messages delivered today from representatives of the CROSS (Centre Regional Operationnel de Surveillance et deSauvetage) Jobourg, crew of 24F (aircraft) and 32F (helicopters) all delivered informativeand practical information covering every aspect of search and rescue, from whatskippers can reasonably expect to detailed accounts of interventions indifferent conditions, films of rescues and practical advice. Race medic DrJean-Yves Chauve also offered key advice of avoiding accidents.

The early days of racing could cast the die for the race. Though the first twenty-four hours seem topromise a peaceful exit from the Channel, the situation will deteriorate rapidly. A deep depression in the Atlantic approaches which will give very strong winds and rough seas. Going straightinto these conditions the duos must quickly must establish a good rhythm or be left behind or even sufferbreakages the material. So where to set the cursor, setting the initial pace is a fundamental skill.
www.transat-jacques-vabre.com

[Doug Lord]

From Scuttlebutt Europe today:

Transat Jacques Vabre : Start On Hold But The Show Goes On

A series of bad Atlantic low pressure systems put paid to the scheduled start of the tenth edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre, the biennial double handed race from Le Havre to Puerto Limon, Costa Rica. The race start has been postponed and will not go before Wednesday.

A decision to hold the start was taken this morning. After a meeting with the skippers of all three divisions, Class 40, Multi 50 and the IMOCA Open 60's, the race organisers and race direction, Race Director Jean Maurel confirmed the decision to postpone the start until the outlook improves.

While the forecasts which will hold the fleet in the Paul Vatine Basin at least until Wednesday predict a very deep depression which will generate stormy conditions for at least 48 hours mid-week in the Atlantic, the weather around the Bay of Le Havre could scarcely have been better for a substitute 13 miles prologue race which was contested for the tens of thousands of spectators featuring all 35 boats from the 3 racing divisions.

Under a watery Autumn sunshine, powered by a light breeze of 7-12kts, it was the reigning Transat Jacques Vabre IMOCA Open 60 title holders Safran with Marc Guillemot and Yann Elies which won, Lionel Lemonchois and Matthieu Souben on Prince de Bretagne triumphed in the Multi 50's. In Class 40 there was a very encouraging win by the young British duo on Concise 2, Sam Goodchild - the race's youngest skipper - and Ned Collier Wakefield. It is not the first time in the history of short handed oceanic races that the start has been delayed by forecasted bad weather. In 2003 the start of this Transat Jacques Vabre's ORMA Multihull fleet was held in port for five days, while the 2000 Vendee Globe solo round the world race kept the skippers back from starting for four days,

The large very deep depression is forecast to generate stormy conditions for 48 hours: with sustained 45 knots, gusting to 55/60 knots and with heavy seas (at least 8 to 10 m) behind the cold front.

Imoca Open 60 (French unless stated)
1. Safran (Marc Guillemot / Yann Elies)
2. Banque Populaire (Armel le Cleac'h / Christopher Pratt)
3. Macif (Francois Gabart / Sebastien Col)
4. Groupe Bel (Kito de Pavant/Yann Reginau)
5. Cheminee Poujoulat (Bernard Stamm/Jean-Francois Cuzon) SUI
6. Akena Verandas (Arnaud Boissieres/Gerald Veniard)
7. Gamesa (Mike Golding/Bruno Dubois) GBR
8. Mirabaud (Dominique Wavre/Michele Paret) SUI
9. DCNS (Marc Thiercelin/Luc Alphand)
10. Bureau Vallee (Louis & Nelson Burton)
11. Virbec-Paprec 3(?)-winner of Barcelona World Race
Multi50
1. Prince de Bretagne (Lionel Lemonchois / Mathieu Souben)
2. Actual (Yves Le Blevec / Samuel Manuard)
3. Fenetre A Cardinal (Erwan Le Roux / Didier Le Vourch)

Class40
1. Concise 2 (Ned Collier Wakefield / Sam Goodchild) GBR
2. Comiris Pole Sante Elior (Thierry Bouchard / Gilles Berenger)
3. Aquarelle.com (Yannick Bestaven / Eric Drouglazet)
4. Avis Immobiler (Eric Galmard/Francois Scheek)
5. 40 Degrees (Hannah Jenner/ Jess Naimark-Rowse) GBR
6. Partouche (Christophe Coatnoan/Etienne Laforgue)
7. Hip Eco Blue (Andrea Fantini/Tomasso Stella) ITA
8. Phoenix Europe Express (Stephanie Alran/Jean Edouard Criquioche)
9. Gust Buster (Anna-Maria Renken/Jakica Jesih) AUT

www.transat-jacques-vabre.com

[michael pierzga]

Once again one of the most challenging races in the schedule and no American competitors ?

[redreuben]

Or Australian or New Zealand !!

RR

[Doug Lord]

From Scuttlebutt Europe today:

Transat Jacques Vabre Will Start Wednesday

After detailed weather analysys and consultation Jean Maurel, the race director, has announced that the start of the tenth edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre will be Wednesday, November 2 at 1500hrs CET/Local Le Havre.

On Wednesday, the worst of the violent low pressure which forced the organization of the Transat Jacques Vabre to postpone the start of the double handed race from Le Havre to Puerto Limon, Costa Rica will be spent. Even so the first hours of the race, from Le Havre out of the Channel will still be quite tough with the wind south-southwest 15-20 knots strengthening with gusts in big squalls and a heavy swell after the front. After the frontal passage associated with depression, the wind will switch to the northwest.The boats will then be able to reach faster, driven by a wind from the west-northwest. The early stages of the race are likely to be fast.

Time-line Wednesday (all CET/Local)

1130hrs: Weather Briefing for skippers
1300hrs : boats dock out from the Paul Vatine Basin
1500hrs: start of the 10th Transat Jacques Vabre

After they cross the start line, the 35 competitors will turn at the General Metzinger buoy, 4 miles north-west of the line, leaving it to port. Then head for Costa Rica.

The course

For monohulls (IMOCA and Class 40): 4730 miles
leaving Dominican Republic to starboard and arrived in Puerto Limon

For Multi50: 5323 miles
Saint Barts to port and Barbados to starboard finish in Puerto Limon

www.transat-jacques-vabre.com

[michael pierzga]

Good call. Tough race, heavy going to clear the cape.

[Doug Lord]

Just found this-don't know which is more accurate but this includes the multies:

Standings at 1700hrs CET after two hours of racing.

IMOCA Open 60
1- PRB (Riou/Destremau) à 4701 miles to finish
2- Virbac-Paprec3 (Dick/Beyou) ) 0,3 miles to leader
3- Groupe Bel (De Pavant/Regniau) 0,6 miles to leader

Class50
1- Crêpes Whaou ! (Escoffier/Koch) at 5266,4 miles to finish
2- Actual (Le Blévec/Manuard) at 0,3 miles to leader
3- Maître Jacques (Fecquet/Escoffier) at 2 miles to leader

Class40
1- Aquarelle.com (Bestaven/Drouglazet) à 4705,9 miles to finish
2- Comiris Pôle Santé Elior (Bouchard/Bérenger) à 1,7 miles to leader
3- Concise 2 (Collier Wakefield/Goodchild) à 1,7 miles to leader

[Corley]

Boat position tracker.

http://transat-jacques-vabre.geovoile.com/2011/

[Doug Lord]

Thanks, Corley-thats a big help.

[Doug Lord]

V3 leading the Open 60's.
Crepes Whaou leading the multies. The 50' multies are about 1.5 times as fast as the Open 60's now.

UPDATE,11/4/11- V3 in 6th place, Whaou in second.

[Doug Lord]

Three of the six trimarans have abandoned the race in mostly light air but rough conditions. One man has a back injury but nothing else is clear. The early leader Crepes Whaou is one of the retirees.

[Corley]

Race update and details on retirements.

http://www.transat-jacques-vabre.com...50s-bound-port

[Doug Lord]

Thanks, Corley-thats some pretty severe structural damage given the conditions. I would not have expected that at all!

[Corley]

It makes you wonder whether the laminate schedule in that area is adequate for the loads it experiences this is the second time the float/beam interface has broken in that area on this boat.

[Doug Lord]

I would have thought after the destruction a few years ago it wouldn't happen again-two boats out with structural problems out of six isn't good. And it's not even close to comparable conditions!

News Flash:
1) The Abu Dhabi VOR70 "Azzam" has been dismasted only a few hours into the race-see the thread under "sailboats".

2) A fourth multihull has abandoned the Transat Jaques-Vabre! That leaves only two left......four retired!

3) Akena Verandas, Open 60 abandoned