Route du Rhum--monohulls

The Boss speaks:

 

More about Alex from Things improving for some but more bad weather on the way | Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe https://www.routedurhum.com/en/news/610
"In the IMOCA fleet the longtime leader Alex Thomson on Hugo Boss is still making his more northerly and westerly option pay, with a margin of around 70 miles over Paul Meilhat on SMA who has now overtaken Vincent Riou on PRB to hold second place after a remarkable few days of tenacious racing from the SMA skipper. Behind them the 25-year-old Swiss sailor Alan Roura on La Fabrique is sailing an impressive race in seventh place, as is Boris Herrmann of Germany two places ahead of him on board Malizia II-Yacht Club De Monaco, the former Gitana.

Thomson looks as though he will hold onto stronger breeze for longer than those to the south of him and he could emerge with a useful lead once the top three boats settle into downwind conditions. Thomson has seen gusts of 50 knots and had some minor gear failure – he broke a lazy jack in his sail management system – but his main concern is that he doesn’t get trapped in light airs on his way passed the Azores.

“The game is to get south, to the high pressure and the trade winds and the first person to do so will make the gain,” he said. “There is no doubt about that. There is a very strong possibility that all of us, or me, or the guys behind, are going to get stuck in the big ridge of high pressure, so that is a big thing at the moment – get south and try and pass the ridge.”

 

Charal / Jeremy Beyou comments on its steering problem (in French). :

 

The last cartography at 10h45. In the Imoca class, the next 24h transition towards the trade winds can be with 12 knots or less winds, that can give SMA the non foiler the opportunity to take a slight advantage as she has proven to be the fastest in these conditions.
Cartography | Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe https://www.routedurhum.com/en/cartography

 

With the last cartography, Jean Le cam analysis of the Imoca race :
J. Le Cam : IMOCA race analysis by Jean Le Cam | Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe https://www.routedurhum.com/en/news/676
Cartography : Cartography | Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe https://www.routedurhum.com/en/cartography

 

The cartography at 22h45 : Imoca / SMA has just tacked and is now heading at 168°, i.e. perpendicular to the direct route, to recover consistent trade winds which are more in the South in the next 24h, ideally at latitude 30° and under, to have 12 to 15 knots wind. Multi 50 Reauté Chocolat takes the same decision. At latitude 32°, extension of a very light wind ridge in the next 24h …
Cartography | Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe https://www.routedurhum.com/en/cartography

 

Here are, from Virtual Regatta screen copy, the current trajectories of the Imoca 4 leaders , boats with a blue R , black one being of course Hugo Boss (took at 23h24 french hour) , + the one of my virtual Imoca (Dolfisud) a bit behind them …

 

Another screen copy from Virtual Regatta (at 9h21 french hour), one can see the seagull wings of the Imoca 4 leaders, the ones of Hugo Boss (in black) and of PRB (in Orange) are perfect. The one of UCAR St Michel (in yellow) is more open probably because he urges to go South, the light winds zone extending to the East and it was priority to escape of that trap.

 

A much tighter race has developed in IMOCA and I am eagerly anticipating following the way in which it develops.Is there any news about the problem that made Charal head for home?

 

Jeremy Beyou explained what happens in the video quote #33 above (in french) . At a start to luff, the mechanical transmission between the steering system (auto pilot as well as manual helm) and the rudders broke, he was obliged to ask the help of a tug to return to Lorient because without steering system it was too hazardous. He can envisaged a repair and a restart for a what would become a training transat of his new boat, but probably not before Sunday.

 

Alex in second?! Oh,no.......

 

Don't worry Doug, the first place of Malizia / B. Hermann is due to its North Route but he has to go one day through the Anticyclonic ridge and he needs a windy corridor. His recent blog at 10h59 is very interesting :
Logbook | Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe https://www.routedurhum.com/en/logbook
For Hugo Boss, SMA and PRB now grouped + UCAR St Michel not far, it is the start of a new race downwind :
Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe https://tracking.routedurhum.com/

 

Here is the Imoca race analysis by Morgan Lagraviere, interesting in particular on how to race in the trade winds and the use of foils :
IMOCA Race Analysis by Morgan Lagravière | Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe https://www.routedurhum.com/en/news/727
… and the last cartography :
Cartography | Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe https://www.routedurhum.com/en/cartography

 

Thanks for saving Alex! I want to see him win... Thanks for your great info.....

 

I read again and put here below again the Malizia / Boris Hermann blog (at 10h59), really a great text informative, poetic, introspective, ... we are as transported aboard his boat and as if through his feelings, really a true talent as a writer that reminds me of Stefan Zweig's style , in addition to his talent as a sailor :
Logbook | Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe https://www.routedurhum.com/en/logbook