A CARIBBEAN CHARGE TOWARDS THE FINISH FOR VIRBAC PAPREC 3
The last 24 hours of drag race sailing in the strong trade winds have been a proper measure of the relative pace of each of the IMOCA Open 60’s as they close towards Puerto Limon, Costa Rica and the finish of this tenth edition of the Transat Jaques Vabre which they started two weeks ago today in Le Havre.
Mona Island’s passage saw Banque Populaire, Macif, Bureau Vallée into the Caribbean during the night. Groupe Bel’s arrival from the south and east saw them gain some miles on Safran as they went between the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica.
Now some 20 miles behind Groupe Bel, 2009 race winner Marc Guillemot with Yann Eliès prepare for their race against time, making their pit-stop today Santo Domingo to repair the rudder linkage on Safran.
Their stop should allow Mirabaud and Gamesa to pass, but at the front of the pack Jean Pierre Dick and Jérémie Beyou have the scent of victory. On the 0800hrs ranking this morning they had just less than 600 miles to the finish line with a margin of 135.6 miles on Hugo Boss, Alex Thomson and Guillermo Altadil. Virbac-Paprec 3 have steadily gained on the pursuing black boat. They are on schedule for a Friday finish but need to maintain the same 15kts average if they are to break Safran’s course record which requires them to have finished by 08:24hrs CET to beat the 15 days 19hrs 22mins mark set in 2009.
Banque Populaire has taken over third place in the thrilling face off between the near identical VPLP-Verdier designs, jousting with Macif. Armel Le Cléac’h and Christopher Pratt were two miles ahead in terms of distance to finish, with just 14 miles of lateral separation and they anticipate a head to head duel to the finish.
In the Multi50 match, Actual chose to pass between the island of Mustique and Canouan in the south of St. Vincent, and is now sailing due west to Costa Rica. They are expected to arrive in Puerto Limon on cue with Groupe Bel. Further back, Maitre Jacques chases after Barbados, the final mark of the course. Some 239.8 miles behind, both Loïc swill have almost no opportunity to get back at the leader but their reward looks like a good second place, and some great sailing in the Caribbean.
Undisputed leader of the Class40 fleet since the departure of the harbor, this new day on board Aquarelle.com is the birthday of Eric Drouglazet. The sailor will celebrate his 44th anniversary. The boat and crew are all good as they make good miles towards the Caribbean.
