Gitana : écurie de course au large fondée par le Baron Benjamin de Rothschild

Tuesday 16 January 2024

Aboard the South Atlantic express train

Late yesterday, Charles Caudrelier was passing offshore of the Brazilian coast, abeam of Cabo Frio and the latitude of Rio de Janeiro. This Tuesday, the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild has bent her course right around towards the south-east to begin her passage across the South Atlantic, bound for the first major cape Good Hope of this Arkea Ultim Challenge. The pace is high and the rhythm being set by the solo sailors is impressing enthusiasts and enlightened observers alike, yet these long downwind tacks are also proving to be a great opportunity to recuperate prior to the tough conditions of the Southern Ocean, as the skipper of Gitana Team admits. At the head of the fleet, the duel between the top two is as intense as ever. At this evening’s ranking, Tom Laperche’s lead had shrunk considerably and Charles Caudrelier had closed to within 10 miles of the young leader.

A day of transition

The atmosphere is still tropical aboard the maxi-trimarans in the Arkea Ultim Challenge. Charles Caudrelier’s images from the ocean testify to this, even though the sailor readily admitted that he relished the drop in temperature hinted at over the past few hours. Making headway at 30° South this Tuesday evening, bound for the Cape of Good Hope, he’s well aware that conditions are set to change, most likely from tomorrow. A fleece and foulies will soon replace the shorts and T-shirt for some time to come.

Neck and neck for some days at the head of the race, Charles Caudrelier and Tom Laperche are stuck together like glue: “Tom is sailing an outstanding race. Congratulations to him! It’s funny because a few years ago we were neighbours in La Trinité-sur-Mer (Brittany) and I remember him training on a foiling Moth. I never thought I’d rediscover him here… We talk to one another a lot and I connect with him. At 26, I didn’t pester guys twice my age, I stuck with the Figaro…” joked Charles Caudrelier.

Though this top duo is clearly on track to catch a ride on the train of depressions rolling across the south, which will propel them along at high speed ahead of a front bound for their first cape in South Africa, the fate of their pursuers remains uncertain. Very quick throughout the day, Thomas Coville, currently 3rd over 375 miles astern, seems to have his heart set on hooking onto the same wagon.

Sleep and collaboration with the BULTEX teams

“Conditions were perfect last night. The boat was making good headway and I got the chance to rack up a lot of sleep and recuperate. It was my longest night since the start, even though I wake up about every hour during my sleep phases to check the trimming is ok. I’m lucky enough to have a made-to-measure BULTEX mattress, especially for this race. It has the right profile, suited to my morphology and the environment in the cockpit of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild. Last night, I put it outside to benefit from the cooler air and it was perfect. In addition to the mattress, BULTEX has made a cushion moulded to the shape of my head, which makes sure I’m perfectly supported when I sleep.”

Among the other good news today is the fact that Armel Le Cléac’h is back in action. Forced to make a pit stop in Recife, in northern Brazil, to repair certain elements damaged during the first days at sea (headsail, pulpit, foil hydraulics) the skipper of Banque Populaire XI returned to the racetrack at midday. As a result, the fleet is complete once again at the start of this 10th day of racing.

Ranking at the 18:00 UTC position report

1)     SVR Lazartigue - Tom Laperche
2)     Maxi Edmond de Rothschild - Charles Caudrelier – some 9.2 miles behind the leader
3) Sodebo Ultim 3 - Thomas Coville – 375.7 miles behind the leader
4)     Actual Ultim 3 - Anthony Marchand – 1,169.3 miles behind the leader
5)     Maxi Banque Populaire XI – Armel Le Cleac’h – 1,285.7 miles behind the leader
6)     Ultim Adagio - Eric Peron – 2,066.3 miles behind the leader