The helm transmission problem encountered just before the Balearics cost Gitana 11 dear, as she lost over twenty miles on this very important phase of the route. Her chosen route to the east of the archipelago, then out to ocean to sail down to Levant Island, was an interesting choice that could have enabled Frédéric Le Peutrec to get back in touch with the leaders for the final miles of the course. In fact, Gitana 11 had been gaining on the leaders from the Balearics to Porquerolles and the technical problems were even more of a pity as the narrowing gap would have at least left third place in the London-Alpes Maritimes race wide open. But the Gods conspired against the two Gitanas, who arrived at the very moment when the wind was totally evaporating. Consequently, it took Frédéric Le Peutrec and Co. over four hours to cover the last eight miles! And for Thierry Duprey du Vorsent, the situation was the same: no wind at all, not even a whisker…
It made for a long finale that was very taxing on the nerves of the two teams.
So it's Franck Cammas (Groupama 2) who has won the day, but only by half an hour ahead of Pascal Bidégorry (Banque Populaire IV) and two and a half hours in front of Michel Desjoyeaux (Géant). The winner completed this highly varied route at an average speed of 12.67 knots.
London-Alpes Maritimes race rankings:
1-Franck Cammas (Groupama 2) in 6d 21h 03' 04'' at 12,67 knots on average over the 2,075 miles of the London-Nice route
2-Pascal Bidégorry (Banque Populaire IV) in 6d 21h 26' 36'', 23 minutes 32 seconds behind the winner.
3-Michel Desjoyeaux (Géant) in 6d 23h 33' 22'', 2 hours 30 minutes and 22 seconds behind the winner.
4-Frédéric Le Peutrec (Gitana 11) in 7d 05h 14' 03'', 8 hours 10 minutes and 59 seconds behind the winner.
5-Thierry Duprey du Vorsent (Gitana 12), 3 miles from the finish at 21:00
6-Antoine Koch (Sopra Group) 600 miles from the finish at 21:00