Enjoying a temporary lull through part of today, skippers in the Transat Jacques Vabre were steeling themselves, preparing for one more beating which stands between them and the easier, faster conditions south of the Azores.Once again the conditions will be tougher for those in the northern group, one which is looking like an increasing advantage for the meantime. Those who took the ''high road, the northern routing, have so far escaped relatively unscathed - fatigued and with a few bumps, bruises and the odd mechanical and electrical problem - while already some of those who elected to go for the seemingly prudent southern routing, were today regretting their decision.
Marc Guillemot and Charles Caudrelier became the fourth leader of the IMOCA Open 60 class when they steadily overhauled Seb Josse and JF Curzon on BT over today, with the radical, chined Prevost-Verdier design taking a lead of 4.7 miles ahead of Josse and Curzon, while Britain's Mike Golding may be struggling to get on top of autopilot problems and an electrical blackout from early this morning, but was up to third place on the late afternoon rankings.
Those on the southern routing have started to tack this afternoon. With a deficit of 277 miles Foncia turned NW this afternoon, as did Vincent Riou and Arnaud Boissires on Akena Verandas.
Those on the southern routing have started to tack this afternoon. With a deficit of 277 miles Foncia turned NW this afternoon, as did Vincent Riou and Arnaud Boissires on Akena Verandas.
It has been a torrid and stormy time for Sam Davies and Sidney Gavignet onboard Artemis Ocean Racing in what has turned into a battering for the IMOCA 60 fleet in the Transat Jacques Vabre.
Decisions about the route for the highly experienced pair have been about preservation of the boat rather than the optimum course.
