Vendée Globe

The high that is building will offer an advantage to the leaders, who will, make good pace down the Portuguese coast, under gennakers  Theoretically they probably will be some way off the coast, as they are aiming for Madeira.

The weather conditions ahead look much more favourable for the competitors, but they will require a lot of physical effort: the Azores high is building off Spain and by this afternoon (Tuesday) it will be generating a steady 20-knot northerly flow off Portugal.  The leaders will be able to follow the cold front as it slowly melts away in front of them This means they will be  able to benefit from stronger winds than the chasing pack: We can expect the fleet to stretch out much further by this evening with distinct groups forming… 20 knot N'ly winds for the leaders,  but a 15-knot westerly for the middle group swtill in the Bay of Biscay: Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) recognized that, a good reason to get back out quickly as calms are expected to develop off Cape Finisterre by Thursday.

The high that is building will offer an advantage to the leaders, who will, make good pace down the Portuguese coast, under gennakers  Theoretically they probably be some way off the coast, as they are aiming for Madeira.  At that latitude, the wind will veer NE'ly and after a gybe, it will be more favourable to be leeward of the fleet. At this pace, they should be passing the Canaries on Thursday and on their way to the Cape Verde Islands with the NE'ly trade winds.

This means they are likely to make up the time lost during  the storm after the start to get to the Equator in under ten and a half days, which was the time set by Jean Le Cam in 2004.  With these stronger winds at the front of the fleet, the gaps are set to increase over the coming hours and it will not be until the Doldrums that there is another major shake-up in the rankings.  The pace is set: the eight leaders intend to make their getaway as quickly as possible. 

Cape Finisterre is the first mark, where the important order is so often established…

D B

Infos précédentes :