Less than 250 miles from the finish line, Tom Laperche (SVR-Lazartigue) is approaching Guadeloupe in the lead of the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe.
Laperche on the first Ultim trimaran is expected to cross the line in the middle of the night (Paris time), after an unusual approach to the Antilles. Without the trade winds Laperche has to contend with a near-head-on southwesterly wind, on a course that could take him close to Montserrat and Antigua.
“I’m keeping a close eye on all the tacks we’ll have to make, the effects of the wind around the islands, the buoy roundings. We’ll have to be precise.” “We’re sailing close-hauled, with the wind almost directly against us, so it promises to be a real physical challenge right to the end!”
For the leader, it’s the final miles to navigate. For the others, a nagging question: how long will they have to contend with this infernal weather?
In IMOCA, Corentin Horeau maintains a good lead – 320 nm – despite a malfunction on board. Sam Goodchild is second.
Basile Bourgnon remains at the top of the Ocean Fifty with a 117 nm lead.
Guillaume Pirouelle leads the Class 40 with Achille Nebout close by at 4 nm.
Since the start, 16 abandonments have been reported out of 115 skippers.
Find the full report on the race and analysis by class . . . https://shorturl.at/PywWQ