Once the excitement of the start was behind them, the skippers in the IMOCA category really entered the real race in this ninth edition of the Route du Rhum. They all made it successfully out of the English Channel, which is always rather tricky because of the local wind effects and the amount of shipping. The start of the race was a close contact affair, to the point where many of the competitors were sailing within sight of each other. “It’s fascinating as we are all grouped together,” declared Jean-Pierre Dick this morning, before adding: “Yesterday (Monday), I could see PRB and Brit Air. I think we’ll all be meeting up again shortly.”

Four leaders
In the lunchtime rankings today, Armel Le Cléac’h was in first place. The skipper of Brit Air became the fourth leader since the start. He took over the baton from Jean-Pierre Dick, Roland Jourdain and Kito de Pavant. The rankings are in constant turmoil and this is likely to continue as the everyone is so closely matched. That in any case is what Kito de Pavant believes, “The boats are very close in terms of their performance, so we can expect a good fight. The race is going to be exciting and this is just the start.” In this context, the slightest technical problem can have immediate consequences. Arnaud Boissières knows all about that. Suffering from rudder problems, he lost a lot of ground in a short space of time and is now having to work hard to hope to make up what he lost.

Two dissidents
The big story at the start of this race is how to get around the Azores high. Seven skippers took the decision to go via the north. Only Arnaud Boissières and Michel Desjoyeaux went for the southern option, taking them away from the direct route and so a handicap in the rankings in the short term. The two sailors were indeed at the bottom of the rankings 48 hours after the start of the race. But by taking this risky option, they hope to benefit in the long term from more favourable conditions than the disciples in the north, who are about to spend a few days sailing upwind in boat-breaking seas. Michel Desjoyeaux: “I felt that the northern route was rather uncertain. What they are about to face is not very attractive and I think the southern route is much simpler.” We are going to have to wait for three or four days, once they have rounded the high-pressure area to know which option was right. Meanwhile, the die has been cast and they have to accept that. “We’ll be keeping an eye on our friends, but there’s not a lot we can do about it. Everyone has chosen their option and now must concentrate on the strategy and not be influenced by others. You have to stick with your option and sail well,” explained Armel Le Cléac’h on Tuesday morning.

An outsider
Another element that stands out in the start of the Route du Rhum is the excellent performance from Christopher Pratt, who is taking part in his first solo race aboard a 60-foot IMOCA boat. After a tricky start – Christopher rounded the Cape Fréhel buoy in ninth place. The youngest member in the IMOCA class is now up with the frontrunners. He is pleased to see this, while remaining modest: “It’s a nice surprise and I hope to be able to battle it out with the leaders all the way to Pointe-à-Pitre. But what lies ahead is looking rather complicated and there’s still a lot of work to do.”

Rankings at 1040 hrs on 2nd November
1 - Armel Le Cléac'h (Brit Air)
2 - Roland Jourdain (Véolia Environnement, 6.4 miles from the leader
3 - Christopher Pratt (DCNS), 10.4 miles from the leader
4 - Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac-Paprec 3), 15 miles from the leader
5 - Vincent Riou (PRB), 24.1 miles from the leader
6 - Marc Guillemot (Safran), 24.5 miles from the leader
7 - Kito de Pavant (Groupe Bel), 27.4 miles from the leader
8 - Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia), 64.2 miles from the leader
9 - Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas), 77.3 miles from the leader