Multihulls start Transat Jacques Vabre

[Source: Transat Jacques Vabre] The starting gun fired at 1:02 p.m. sharp for the multihulls start in a northerly 3 knots of wind. Brossard (Y. Bourgnon / J. Vincent) and Crêpes Whaou ! (Escoffier / Fauconnier) crossed the line first in their respective category.

After one week of buzz, The Paul Vatine Basin is finally totally empty which means the focus will now totally passed onto the race. The 13 multihulls (5 ORMA, 8 Class 50) quietly left the harbour this morning under a nice blue sky and headed to the start area.

The wind is playing the girls of airsight as the high pressure positioned on the Seine Bay only provides light airs that should benefit to Groupama’s configuration till the Atlantic. Looking at the files Eolus will supposedly strengthen tomorrow (Monday) morning for the multihulls. The skippers have thee options in their sleeves to deal with this high pressure system: sail above (getting closer to the English coasts), keep the boats’ bows on the most direct route or try to catch a bit of wind on its south east edge. Making the decisions on where to head for will also depend on what the weather files will showing for the descent of the Atlantic and even further on on the race course.

Resting will therefore not be in the minds and the night will be busy changing sails and trying to make the best of the slightest blow of wind.

As well as for the monohulls, the positioning of the boats when they will have passed the high pressure out of the Channel should be decisive for the rest of the race. Within 4 days of racing thought the picture should be a bit clearer.