Friday turns out to be particularly challenging for competitors. Trapped in the North by the Ice Exclusion Zone, they must fight their way through this transition space (white dots) which marks the precise moment where the southwest stream of the Bermuda’s anticyclone, going back to Newfoundland, will make its junction with the edge of the Azores’ anticyclone. The two air masses will eventually blend together and generate a regular Southwest stream, but it will take time before the sailing conditions become better.
In these small little windy eddies, we must stay responsive to shift West and navigate as quickly as possible in a more stable wind. Even if the gaps remain small between the boats, Macif’s few miles of advance are valuable and should allow them to lengthen the stride faster than their two immediate competitors.
IDEC SPORT and Sodebo Ultim' play hide-and-seek and if the fog had not invaded the area this morning, they could see each other with binoculars as they tack in light air...
Once in the Southwestern wind are stable, a great maneuvering in the medium wind shall be undertook. Boat performances will be preponderant. These "pure bloods" were not designed to fight against the wind but rather for surfing, even make detours, seeking a downwind. In this route from East to West, this was not possible. Each boats’ weak points will be confronted: Will Macif consolidate his advance? IDEC SPORT, built in 2005 and that did not undergo any changes since then, can it resist the return of Sodebo Ultim' recently transformed?
For now, routings guide the leading trio to approximatively 300 miles away from New York Monday at 12HTU, 8H locally. Provided that the pea puree in which they are immersed today does not last too long. For the last few miles, uncertainty is taking over. The high temperatures going back to the North East of the United States (31° in New York today), are confronted with cold air coming down from Canada. This heat shock promotes the creation of stormy masses which are difficult to predict, therefore it could shuffle the standings. Unless one of the stormy masses turns into a depression and only generates a favorable Southwestern wind for the leader’s final sprint.
Dominic Vittet
