After a spectacular start lifted by rare ferveur populairem the regatta took all its rights for the four Utlime trimarans of the Centernary Transat. The race start ne fait pas mentir les prévisions. The ocean liner, on a direct route going at 24-25 knots, while the multihulls, caught up in the calm winds of the ridge of high pressure, hardly exceed a dozen of knots. It would be an understatement to say that the sea giants are not going very fast, as they are deprived from wind and their fuel to compete against the steel giant who swallows miles - 480 per day to be exact - with unyielding consistency.
A ridge of high pressure in the way
As expected, the small air majoritaires in the Loire's estuary have continued to loose efficiency during this first race day, forcing the 22 sailors not to yield, to draw their trajectory on the Northern route
As expected, the light airs on the Loire’s estuary waters continued to loose efficiency during this first race day, forcing the 22 sailors not to yield, to draw their trajectory on the Northern route , which all sailors choose to follow. " This morning we see that four boats chose the Northern option. The southern option has been revealed not being realistic on the long-term. But they have to at first go through an immense quiet zone which extends of the point of Cornwall Englishwomen until the wide of Iberian Peninsula ", comments Dominic Vittet, the meteo consultant of the running(race), embarked aboard the "liner" and in an ideal position to appreciate(estimate) in situ the conditions which rage from the point of view of water.
Depression above the garden
However, from tomorrow, the race should radically change and any other turn out at the approach of a low-pressure system, which must allow gear to sails at a much faster pace. "The next night and the days Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to be better and especially tougher: more sailboats will be closer to the depression, and also the Southwest will be chiller (up to 20 knots) and shift to the Northwest, " adds the meteorologist. In a sky with grain, the sailors will tack and soon attack the center of the Atlantic. The one who gets the most high speed winds will be able to widen the gap thanks to acceleration.
A duel at the top of the standing
At the moment, in the wake of the ocean liner, which displays already 250 miles ahead, the battle between the six men of Macif (François Gabart) and the quintet of IDEC SPORT (Francis Joyon), exchanging leadership according to the rankings. Behind, the crew of Sodebo Ultim' (Thomas Coville), who conceded the field in the first battle of edges to draw closer to the coast of Brittany, is 15 miles behind. Actual (Yves Le Blevec), the less powerful of the four, is currently 20 miles away from the leading duo. But in the next few hours, the premises of the expected cool winds should also allow him to speed up the process. And why not take over Queen Mary 2 which should, slow down the tempo, in these tougher conditions. For the time being, the Captain Christopher Wells gets the best of his four engines of 21 000 horses. And the cruise is in swing full on board the steel giant the steamer, on the route leading to New York...