Defi Azimut prelude to the Route du Rhum, Ultimes racing this year

[Corley]

This year the Defi Azimut (Azimuth Challenge) is welcoming the Ultimes which are racing a long course. There is also an IMOCA group that are racing the short course. They are off and racing now.

The tracker is here:

http://www.defi-azimut.net/?mode=cartographie

The Defi Azimut website:

http://www.defi-azimut.net/?

 

[Doug Lord]

Corley, are "Ultimes" Mod 70's-don't think I've heard that before?

 

[Corley]

Yes they have put the Multi70's/MOD70's with the Ultimes this year for the RdR.

 

[Doug Lord]

What are the "Ultimes"?

 

[Corley]

It's a grey area now as to how an "Ultime" is defined it used to be that they were round the 100' mark but the Maxi80 and Multi70 has confused the matter. If the MOD70 one design class still existed they would probably sail in a separate class but now that the boats all have custom mods it's probably easier to lump them all together. I'd say that a MOD70/Multi70 might have a chance of winning outright given suitable conditions and luck.

 

[Corley]

A screenshot of the final finishing order.

 

[Corley]

http://youtu.be/FQQjm2xMk5s