The victory in Ultim should be played between Charles Caudrelier and François Gabart expected Wednesday morning near Guadeloupe.
On land, computers overheat and at sea the hulls of boats as well. Because followers and sailors only think of one thing: the arrival in Guadeloupe. Leaving last Wednesday at 2:15 p.m. from Saint-Malo, the first sailors in Ultims are expected this Wednesday between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. (Paris time), according to the organizers, at Tête à l’Anglais, a small rock and first land located just to the north of butterfly island. And barring an incredible reversal of the situation, which is always possible in sailing, it is Charles Caudrelier, who should be the first to see this piece of West Indian land a few hours before François Gabart, then start this tour of Guadeloupe which scares him so much.
Reached by the organization this Tuesday morning, the skipper of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild said that he had finally been able to rest properly, well set up at an average speed of more than 30 knots: “ It’s starting to go fast, it’s nice. Finally some real sliding! The boat is fine. The sea has organized itself. It’s pleasant. The more wind there is, the easier the boat is for the pilot. I took advantage of it but it was dark and in the squalls, the wind was rising to more than 30 knots. I had it all on and I was in mode “I don’t break anything”. I could have gone faster. The boat was asking to go over 40 knots but I preferred to stay reasonable. I was able to get some sleep and had a great night’s sleep”.
Vigilance of stake
Although the 6 o’clock classification gave him a lead of 110 miles over François Gabart, Caudrelier only had 67 more at 8 o’clock (Thomas Coville being relegated to 171 miles). Reached before this last score, the leader refused to get carried away anyway: “ I remain vigilant. François is in a better position than me because it’s not completely impossible that I have to jibe at some point. The day is going to be a bit soft and there are going to be squalls. It’s not over before Guadeloupe! Concentration and rest are on the agenda for the day. I don’t have enough lead to relax completely “. And to add: What worries me is the turn of Guadeloupe. I’m afraid that François will do me a Joyon, that he’ll take revenge for the last time! Leader at the head of the Englishman, Gabart was overtaken along the coast of Guadeloupe to finish behind the sailor-menhir Francis Joyon at only 7 minutes and 8 seconds. A scenario that Charles Caudrelier knows by heart and that he wants above all to avoid for his very first finish on the Route du rhum.
Charlie Dalin, also big favorite at the start in Saint Malo in his class (the Imoca monohulls) and engaged for his first rum route, is securing his status aboard his monohull Apivia and is maintaining a good lead this morning (at least 70 miles ) on a peloton of pursuers led by Jérémie Beyou (Charal). Nothing has yet been won for the second of the last Vendée Globe (and first on the finish line) because the weather situation is still unstable 2,000 miles from Guadeloupe. As Beyou confirms: “It’s already easing a little bit. We are trying to find the fastest way to reach this trade wind which will give us a bit of breath. The models are divergent and do not really correspond to reality. It’s not very clear. You have to choose the right strategy and I think it’s the wind that will decide, that will make the options emerge naturally”.
Battle of Richomme-Douguet
A short distance from the monohulls of the Vendée Globe (and located 1800 miles from Guadeloupe), Quentin Vlamynck (Arkema) still dominates the class of Ocean Fifty trimarans with 67 miles ahead of Erwan Leroux (Koesio), Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa ) the title holder in Class 40 battling with his friend Corentin Douguet (Queguiner –Innoveo) 2300 miles from the finish and the ti-punch.
An arrival that will not be experienced by 21 sailors (out of 138 at the start) forced to give up and often scarred by the violent weather conditions encountered in particular in the Bay of Biscay. This Tuesday morning the list of retirees is as follows: 13 in Class40 monohulls, 4 in IMOCA monohulls, 2 in Rhum Multi, 2 in Ocean Fifty trimarans. Like the Olympic pole vault champion Jean Galfione, (forced to retire after a shock to the head) and our former colleague from Figaro Fabrice Amedeo, who must return to terra firma in the Azores after having narrowly escaped the drama fatal (he saw his boat catch fire and sink then was recovered by a freighter after spending a few hours in his life raft), the hard-hit sailors are healing their wounds this Tuesday whether they are racing or more. 117 still dream of joining Guadeloupe, including Caudrelier and Gabart…
