Saturday January 4
Charlie Dalin and Yoann Richomme are in the trade winds, 20 knots east, and are heading north in the best possible conditions for their foilers. It's flying…Sébastien Simon is also in the trade winds, but he is close-hauled in the north-north-east at 15 knots. He must push his port tack until 6 p.m. UTC before turning to leave on starboard tack to the Doldrums, which he will reach on Monday.
Thomas Ruyant and Paul Meilhat, who followed him about fifty miles, fled the stormy depression to the northeast. Their wind is not strong, around fifteen knots, but still very unstable. They are under a storm front which produces violent squalls. Gusts of 50 knots are still to be feared. Justine Mettraux, who brings up the rear of the chasing group, has chosen to pass to the west of the low pressure center to benefit from the downwind winds. Her starboard tack takes her towards the center of the depression but she will quickly be able to head north to turn her back on the depression.
Sunday 5
The two leaders are approaching the Doldrums but, luckily, it is reduced to its minimum at the time of their passage. Their average speeds will suffer a little from the few inevitable slack zones but the transition with the northeast trade winds of the North Atlantic should happen quickly. Sébastien Simon will see his average increase as his wind improves, that is to say it turns towards the east. Sébastien can now fly at more than 20 knots, en route to the doldrums.
Thomas Ruyant and Paul Meilhat are trapped because they are moving northeast at the same time as a squall line. The wind is very irregular and the squalls can still cause very violent gusts. Difficult to move forward quickly in these conditions. For her part, Justine Mettraux must be able to take advantage of her position further west. Her wind has shifted from southwest to west and she can move quickly toward the north with a good angle between the wind direction and her heading!
Monday 6
Charlie Dalin and Yoann Richomme are now reaching, almost across the beam, in a strong northeast trade wind. The sea is short but does not prevent the foilers from flying. We will not forget that these are boat-breaking conditions because it hits hard on tired boats but how can we be careful when the finish is not far away and the competition is still very strong for the last days of the race? race.
Sébastien Simon must go quickly and well in the east wind. Be careful not to go too close to the coast where buffer effects break the trade winds.
Justine Mettraux was able to do well by not sticking to the storm front but she will have a soft zone to cross. It is the transition between the westerly winds north of the depression and the northeasterly winds of the trade winds which are not very far away.
Thomas Ruyant and Paul Meilhat must still be fighting with the very stormy front. This grueling navigation has been going on for several days: respecting this routing is not a good option!
See you tomorrow, for a new weather update and a new exclusive analysis from METEO CONSULT
