Matthieu Perraut capsized yesterday, Tuesday, around 2200hrs. The skipper of the Ocean Fifty Elvest is doing well and is awaiting rescue, 400 miles north of the Azores.
Corentin Horeau (MACSF) is reaping the rewards of his tactical choice. As the only IMOCA skipper to break through the trough yesterday, he holds a lead of over 130 miles this morning.
Jérémie Beyou (Charal) has decided to withdraw from the race for medical reasons. Charles Caudrelier (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild) is heading back to Lorient following damage to his port-side foil. Anthony Marchand (Actual Ultim 4) has reached Galway, Ireland.
There are many, many strategic choices in play across the six classes: diverging courses widening or narrowing gaps, and a low-pressure system to navigate near the Azores.
After three days of high-speed racing, the Atlantic is reshuffling the packs. North of the Azores, weather transitions have already upended standings, while a complex low-pressure system lies in store. Between tactical maneuvers, tight duels, and technical issues, the six classes of the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe are all now moving at very different paces. And no one has really figured out the playbook for what is coming up next, nor indeed beyond that on the course to Guadeloupe
One little patch of wind makes all the difference
Corentin Horeau (MACSF) was the only skipper to have caught the train yesterday, north of the Azores, leaving his rivals on the platform. By approaching the trough from the south, he became the only IMOCA skipper to cross this transition zone before it summarily closed off behind him, leaving his competitors behind. Now he has a lead of over 130 miles as of this Wednesday morning, Horeau’s speeds have exceeded 20 knots, and, trailing behind, competitors still mired in light winds. "When I see the standings, I can hardly believe it! This is what you dream of as a sailor—making gains like this. I really thought I wouldn't make it through, but then I found a little patch of wind that got me moving again. After that, it was full throttle!" But he has no room to rest on his gains, he is navigating a narrow corridor of wind, now needing to link up frequent gybes to avoid falling back into the doldrums.
Elodie Bonafous (Association Petits Princes – Quéguiner) said. "I knew I couldn't afford to be slow while crossing the front, but I never imagined we’d struggle this much or end up stuck for so long. It’s going to be tough to catch back up to Corentin, though nothing is lost yet."
Meanwhile Germany’s Boris Herrmann on the new Malizia 4 is up to second just ahead of Italian American Francesca Clapcich (11th Hour Racing) who is furthest south and west. Both were moving at between eight and 10 knots this morning while Horeau on MACSF was still making over 20kts
Ultims closer together The contrast with the Ultim class is striking, where the competition has, by, comparison, tightened up. After holding a lead of over 70 miles on Tuesday, Tom Laperche (SVR-Lazartigue) now has a cushion of only about 20 miles over Armel Le Cléac'h (Maxi Banque Populaire XI). The leader has been working through meteorological traps, ranging from unexpected calms to violent gusts. "We went from zero knots to 30 knots—with full sail up! The wind was incredibly unstable, making it impossible to maintain a strong average speed. Still, if we can manage to stay in the lead, that’s a good thing." Laperche and Le Cléac’h have just tacked, on a southerly course looking to find fast, reaching conditions. Thomas Coville (Sodebo Ultim 3) has already opted for a more southerly route.
Elvest capsizes
Yesterday, at 2205hrs Matthieu Perraut (Elvest) capsized 400 miles north of the Azores. The skipper of the Ocean Fifty is doing well; he remains in contact with race control and his technical team, and is awaiting rescue.
The incident has deeply affected his fellow competitors in the same class. Basile Bourgnon, currently in the lead aboard Edenred, openly reflects on the questions weighing on everyone sailing these exceptionally demanding trimarans. "We text each other. Sometimes we wonder if we’re pushing things a bit too close to the limit. You have to push hard to build a lead, but whenever possible, we try to rest and ease off the accelerator." He is into more stable downwind conditions and, at last, no longer feels like he’s sailing across a “potato field” (rough, choppy seas). He is trying to use this time to recover, all while keeping a close eye on those chasing him. Three of his rivals remain clustered in his wake, while Thibaut Vauchel-Camus (Solidaires En Peloton by Delanchy) has gambled on a far more northerly route. "
Elsewhere choices to carry on or retire are being weighed up. Charles Caudrelier (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild), the defending champion in the Ultim class, has decided to head back toward Lorient following major damage to his port-side foil on Tuesday. His team hopes to have him back in action by next weekend. Meanwhile, Anthony Marchand (Actual Ultim 4) reached Galway late Tuesday afternoon; assessments are currently underway before any decisions are made regarding the continuation of his journey. In the IMOCA class, Jérémie Beyou (Charal) has opted to withdraw from the race for medical reasons, following consultations with a doctor and race management. He is now making his way toward the Azores.
A free for all in Class40
Among the Class 40s looking to deal with this major low at the Azores it is Robin Follin (Solano) leading thanks to a route that is closer to the great-circle (orthodromic) path, while Guillaume Pirouelle (Sogestran – Seafrigo) and Pierre Leboucher (Institut Imagine) continue their head-to-head battle. "It’s a total free-for-all out here!" remarks Guillaume Pirouelle, "I find the decision to head north quite bold! On paper, the routing software might back them up, but it assumes we’re capable of maneuvers that might not actually be feasible in such extreme conditions. Personally, the idea of sailing downwind, solo, in massive seas with 40 knots of wind—or even more—just didn't feel right to me." Pirouelle makes no secret of the fact that he, too, is venturing into uncharted territory: he has never encountered such a phenomenon before. And the current conditions offer little respite—squalls, sail changes, heavy seas, and a few dramatic nose-dives have already kept him very busy.
Tanguy Caradec (Eurvad) shares this sense of uncertainty aboard his Rhum Mono entry. For his first-ever transatlantic crossing, he is discovering that the Route du Rhum is, quite decidedly, no smooth, tranquil journey. "I’m a bit apprehensive about what lies ahead. You have to strike the right balance between pushing hard, getting enough rest, and taking care of the boat. And then, using your head, you have to try to pick the best path so you don’t get tossed around too much."
Amidst all these complications, there is still the very essence of what makes the race so rewarding: the pleasure of sailing at speed, pitting oneself against others, and getting the absolute best out of one’s boatl. In the Rhum Mono class, Kieran Le Borgne (Armor-Lux – Le Finistère Assurance), Sidney Gavignet (Le Cigare Rouge), and Tanguy Caradec are separated by less than 2.5 nautical miles. Three boats, three skippers, and a leaderboard that shifts with almost every position update. "It’s fantastic! I’m doing the best I can. I have faith in my boat—it was well prepared. I’m trying not to push it too hard, because there’s still a long way to go, and my goal is to make it to the other side."
In the Rhum Multi class, Éric Péron (French Touch – Oceania Hôtels) took the lead in the middle of the night, displacing Damien Seguin (Arkéa – Handicap International), who has been contending with a broken spinnaker pole since Monday evening. The new leader, however, is not without his own troubles: his large gennaker is torn.