Ultims in next Fastnet race 3rd August

First real confrontation of the Ultims is planned for the next Fastnet race (the previous Armen race was with too light winds) , inc. the new Sodebo 3 / Thomas Coville and the refit (after the brutal Route du Rhum) Macif / Francois Gabart and Gitana 17 / Franck Cammas and Charles Caudrelier. If the wind is there....., that will go fast.
Ultimes threaten Rolex Fastnet Race record destruction https://www.rolexfastnetrace.com/news/897-ultimes-threaten-rolex-fastnet-race-record-destruction

 

Thanks, Dolfiman-that will be a spectacular race!

Go Gitana 17!

(just an aside: a record fleet of foil equipped IMOCA 60's will also sail the Fastnet!)

 

Ultimes threaten Rolex Fastnet Race record destruction https://www.rolexfastnetrace.com/news/897-ultimes-threaten-rolex-fastnet-race-record-destruction

 

Two new videos on Ultim Macif : they put a new starboard foil (the one lost at the last RdR) quasi same geometry but structurally more resistant. They also check the port one (which had had some small damage too). And then training with co-skipper Gwenole Gahinet (who was of the crew with Francis Joyon when they catched the Jules Verne Trophy in 40 days with IDEC), in view the Fasnet 3rd of August and Brest Atlantique 3rd of November (double-handed race, Brest > small island offshore Rio > small island offshore Capetown > Brest, without stop).
[Vidéo] Le trimaran MACIF retrouve son deuxième foil - Macif Course au Large https://www.macifcourseaularge.com/actus/video-trimaran-macif-retrouve-deuxieme-foil/
[Vidéo] Premiers entraînements à bord du trimaran MACIF - Macif Course au Large https://www.macifcourseaularge.com/actus/video-premiers-entrainements-a-bord-trimaran-macif/

 

… and a focus on the diamond shape section of the bows of Sodebo 3 : click on "en savoir plus sur les étraves"
Sodebo Ultim 3 https://ultim3.sodebo.com/#les-flotteurs

 

Some last news before the start today :
*** Yesterday, Macif was flashed at 45 knots offshore Portland Bill during a training run :
24liveblog - Live blogging platform https://photo.24liveblog.com/2312403930792880917/20190803073951_869095.jpg
*** Meteo today for the start : Wind average 8 knots to gusts 12, from 130° (>> so ~ beam reaching a priori)
Weather cowes-yacht-haven - 14-Day Harbour Approaches - SHIPPING FORECAST bassin-par-defaut - METEO CONSULT MARINE https://marine.meteoconsult.co.uk/marine-weather-forecast/weather-harbour-approaches/bassin-par-defaut/weather-forecast-cowes-yacht-haven-797-0.php
*** Live coverage starts at 11:45 UK time :
Overview https://www.rolexfastnetrace.com/multimedia/multimedia-overview
*** Start times for the various classes :
Start times https://www.rolexfastnetrace.com/competitors/race-documents/start-times
The 4 Ultims start first at 12:30 : Macif, Gitana 17, Sodebo 3 and Team Actual
*** The Live blog :
Live https://www.rolexfastnetrace.com/live

 

The tracking is there below (click to "Zoom the lead three teams" icon to see the Ultims), Ultims speed increases regularly, Macif leads at 38 knots presently, Gitana 33 knots (Edmond de Rothchild) not far (Gitana was the first at Hurst point, then they lost in manoeuver ?, sail change ? and so slid to the third position, but speed is good again, nothing wrong apparently) and Sodebo 3 not far :
Rolex Fastnet 2019 - YB Tracking Race Viewer https://cf.yb.tl/fastnet2019#

 

Relying on Ventusky usually excellent forecasts : some light winds for the next 6 hours, but after, ~ from Land's end for the Ultims, it is expected SW 10 to 18 knots, so beam reaching most of the time, that can go fast. Macif and Gitana presently side to side.
Weather Forecast Maps https://www.ventusky.com/?p=49.9;-3.2;5&l=wind-10m&t=20190804/0500

 

The two leaders Gitana and Macif, still side to side, have now finished with the light winds for the rest of the race. And it is now SW 10 growing to 18, the optimal wind force and direction to go very fast to and from the Fastnet Rock : with the guys on board and such a close competition, this affair will be decided at more than 40 knots !
tracking : Rolex Fastnet 2019 - YB Tracking Race Viewer https://cf.yb.tl/fastnet2019#
Forecast : Weather Forecast Maps https://www.ventusky.com/?p=50.07;-6.64;7&l=wind-10m&t=20190803/2300

 

Still hot boiling between the two leaders Macif and Gitana, in visu within 1-2 NM to each other since the beginning, presently at average 29 knots. Sodebo 3 , 3rd at 55 NM behind, seems to have lost any chance due to their offshore option yesterday during the light winds event. Gitana gave the explanation of their slowdown yesterday after the Needles which costed them the lead : they slightly grounded a gravel bank not recorded on the map, fortunately without apparent damage for their speed potential.
Tracking : Rolex Fastnet 2019 - YB Tracking Race Viewer https://cf.yb.tl/fastnet2019#

 

Gitana is back ! After conceding up to 3 NM behind Macif, she is now back at just 1 NM behind and 25 NM to finish. Suspens ...
Tracking : Rolex Fastnet 2019 - YB Tracking Race Viewer https://cf.yb.tl/fastnet2019#

 

Gitana won at the very end : 58 s before Macif !!!
"It's never over until its over even in the 32m Ultim class with Maxi Edmond de Rothschild beating MACIF across the finish line by just 58 seconds after Francois Gabart's team had led all the way back from the Fastnet Rock!"
Live https://www.rolexfastnetrace.com/live

 

The first debriefing of Gitana team : during the wind transition so difficult to interpret, they prefered follow Macif on the North route to race them instead of continue straight on like Sodebo3, which was suggested by the last meteo forecast. They also reported on two incidents : " They went aground on the Shingles Bank at 25 knots while leading the Ultims out of the Solent destroying the tip of their daggerboard. Then a large fish got caught around their daggerboard just after passing the Fastnet Rock, requiring them to back down to extract themselves, allowing MACIF past."
MACIF pipped at the post by Maxi Edmond de Rothschild in Ultim competition https://www.rolexfastnetrace.com/news/922-macif-pipped-at-the-post-by-maxi-edmond-de-rothschild-in-ultim-competition

 

Now that's some craziness right there you don't need in a race....but fitting, nonetheless.

Thanks for the intel.

 

No time for a sushi break for the Gitana team.