Week 3 - Atlantic Wayback e-series
It's been nineteen days since the Vendée Globe eSeries Atlantic Wayback set off between Cape Horn and Les Sables d'Olonne and we still don't know which group is going to win, although things are beginning to become clearer...
The first night's option was and will remain decisive. The group that took the lead still has a comfortable lead. The Azores anticyclone is very shifty and spreads out across the ocean. It's difficult for the virtual skippers to find their way around and aim for the gap as this zone of high pressure fluctuates...
A group led by BigLuD-EZ and Pas Foil La Gambas could come out on top. RflBzH - PVe followed by BlackPanther BSP further to the west two days ago, have followed in their wake.
juju456 - BSP, who had been leading for a long time, is now at the head of a small group in the company of other big names. But his slightly too easterly option could prove fatal.
Faced with these weather conditions, some have tried to find the wind further west. But it will be difficult to catch up, even if the last few days of the race could be favourable for them. Will the difference in speed be enough to compensate for the many extra miles needed to complete this trajectory?
Others tried a very daring move: to sail up the ocean via the African coast. On Tuesday, some navigators were even predicting that they would win! Today, that's not so much the case. If it turns out that the winner in Les Sables comes from this original route, it would be unprecedented, as the sailors are so used to taking a more central route across the Atlantic.
The equator was crossed a few days ago by the whole fleet. Many of them are now north of the Tropic of Cancer.
At 12h00 on Friday 29th September, the leading trio were as follows:
1 - Darius-BHT/Entourage
2 - coulou 8 BSP
3 - NEVETS 56
These three are located very far east. The current leader passed not far from the Cape Verde archipelago a few days ago.
But they will have to contend with a headwind for those closest to the African coast, or a vast zone of light airs. The rankings are not yet significant.
In a week's time, the finish will be close! Who will have come up with the best route in this Atlantic slump?
Let's not forget the team players :
The podium has been turned upside down since last week. The BHT/Entourage #FORPEOPLE team is in the lead ahead of LSV - Trustable and the Black Sailing Project team. Everything remains to be done for this ranking too.
There's still a lot to think about over the next few days if we're to reach the podium or grab a good place in the rankings.
See you next week!