Foot on the accelerator

THE FOURTH NIGHT

These past hours have been particularly turbulent. The race is ramping up in intensity: the sailors have caught the wind and are seizing the opportunity, charging south with long strides. Martin Le Pape and Mathilde Géron (Demain) have taken the lead ahead of the duo Laure Galley–Kevin Bloch (DMG MORI Academy). Meanwhile, Lola Billy and Corentin Horeau (Région Bretagne – CMB Océane), after colliding with floating debris, have diverted course toward Cascais. And among the fleet, everyone is slowly recovering after a brush with a submarine.

It’s a memory that will last—a close encounter of the third kind in the middle of the ocean. The image is still striking and firmly etched in their minds: Romain Bouillard and Irina Gracheva (Décrochons la lune), followed by Davy Beaudart and Julie Simon (Hellowork), passed right next to a submarine—an eerie sight in these times of international tension. Irina chose to laugh it off: “They were watching us on AIS and came up to the surface to check out the race!”

Time for new tactical choices

And it makes sense if taken literally ! The race has been more intense than ever since the fleet regrouped yesterday around midday, and now each duo is relentlessly chasing the best wind corridor compared to the competition. This morning, DMG MORI Academy (Laure Galley–Kevin Bloch) was still well positioned, but Demain (Martin Le Pape–Mathilde Géron) had taken the lead, with Hellowork (Davy Beaudart–Julie Simon, 3rd), Selencia–Cerfrance (Maël Garnier–Catherine Hunt, 4th), and Décrochons la lune (Romain Bouillard–Irina Gracheva, 5th) in close pursuit.

“We can guess that in this wind band, the intensity varies across areas,” says Race Director Francis Le Goff. What stands out, however, is the consistency of some. Demain (Martin Le Pape–Mathilde Géron) is slightly ahead thanks to their average speed. “Yesterday, between 6 PM and midnight, they managed to be just a bit faster than the others,” explains Yann Château.

Above all, there are noticeable differences in positioning. Some have opted for a more easterly route, like Skipper Macif (Charlotte Yven–Hugo Dhallenne, 8th), who are 27 miles laterally from the group led by Demain. Yann Château analyzes: “It’s always a choice between pressure and angle. Since they’ve all moved south of the anticyclonic ridge, you either go west to get a better angle due to the curvature of the high pressure, or you go more east to get stronger pressure.” It’s a “race within the race” that should resolve in about 80 miles, at the gybe point before a long starboard tack. In any case, the competitors are determined to maintain their pace!

THE DAMAGE - Région Bretagne – CMB Océane is approaching Cascais

Lola Billy and Corentin Horeau are just a few miles from the Portuguese capital. The duo struck floating debris late yesterday, damaging their port rudder blade. They intend to replace the rudder blade and rejoin the race, as allowed by the rules. “They’ll be entering the port shortly,” says Francis. “The only uncertainty is the state of the hull.” In any case, “if the repairs don’t take too long, they could rejoin the fleet. They’re eager to return and very motivated!”

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT

Maël Garnier (Selancia–Cerfrance):“We’re doing well, our positioning has been pretty good from the start. We kind of gambled on going west each time to take more advantage of wind shifts than strength. It seems we’re in a good group—lots of boats around us, good pace-setters... We’ve started to pick up speed along Portugal, it’s getting sporty. We’re still managing rest and keeping our watch rotations going. What’s next? We’re placing ourselves well, staying in clear wind and where the shifts will happen. We expect it to pick up; there’ll be more wind, so we’ll be tired. It’s quite damp, and we’re trying to take care of ourselves. Otherwise, we’re having a great time on board!”

NEWS FROM THE FLEET

The weather was lovely yesterday, and many were all smiles. “We’re under full spinnaker, we’ve got our shorts and t-shirts on, and we’re doing great,” summarized Arno Biston (Article1). “We’re in trade wind mode—sunhats and speed sunglasses,” added Estelle Greck (Région Bretagne CMB Espoir). Many spotted dolphins: Mathilde Géron and Martin Le Pape (Demain), Jules Ducelier and Sophie Faguet (Région Normandie), Cindy Brin and Thomas André (Cap St Barth), Ellie Driver and Oliver Hill (Women's Engineering Society). Adrien Simon and Chloé Le Bars (Faun) also passed a catamaran, while Jules Ducelier and Sophie Faguet (Région Normandie) weaved through cargo ships. “Feels like the English Channel!” they wrote. Anaelle Pattusch (Humains en actions) was steering to music, and Charlotte Yven and Hugo Dhallenne toasted with Orangina. On the culinary front: blood sausage with apples from Romain Bouillard (Décrochons la lune) and kouign-amann from Maël Garnier and Catherine Hunt (Selencia–Cerfrance).