Please select your home edition
Edition
Rooster SB1 Inshore Range

Route des Princes - Spindrift Racing continues to lead Leg 2

by Sabina Mollart Rogerson on 18 Jun 2013
2013 Route des Princes - Lisbon Ricardo Pinto http://www.americascup.com
In the 2013 Route des Princes, racing with the whole MOD70 fleet in close contact for periods today, Yann Guichard and the crew of Spindrift continue to lead Leg 2 as they passed to the east of the centre of the depression and have been enjoying fast downwind sailing, slowed only by the confused, difficult seas.

Skipper Guichard reported that conditions on board Spindrift were like ‘being in a washing machine’. Their lead over Sidney Gavignet’s Oman Air-Musandam this afternoon was around four miles as they surged north at speeds of up to thirty knots.

'The speeds are impressive, but that's normal for these boats.' Reported Charles Caudrelier from Edmond de Rothshchild this morning, 'As soon as there's a little wind sailing downwind, these boats take off, but the problem is they're taking a pounding with these nasty seas, and as we are racing we are forced to push them hard..We're going along 28-30kts we are hitting the sea coming towards us and banging up and down on the waves. There are noises coming from everywhere on the boat. But we're making headway...'

'We are all in visual contact with Oman Air-Musandam are no more than 200 metres away, Prince de Bretagne is to leeward, Virbac-Paprec 70 a bit behind us and Spindrift just a bit ahead.'

The four MOD70’s are heading directly to the Fastnet Rock 270 miles due north of them. Guichard says they are expecting a fast passage up to the famous mark, but anticipates a re-start in light airs in the Irish Sea.

In the Multi 50 class, Yves Le Blevec’s Actual was leading towards the scoring mark off the West of Brittany this afternoon but their lead over FentreA-Cardinal was just one mile with six miles to sail.

Ranking 16 TU

Multi50:


1 : Actual (Yves Le Blevec) à 464,70 miles to finish
2 : FenêtréA-Cardinal (Erwan Le Roux) à 1,75 miles to leader
3 : Arkéma – Région Aquitaine (Lalou Roucayrol) à 32,94 miles to leader
4 : Rennes Métropole – Saint-Malo Agglomératio (Gilles Lamiré) à 141,76 miles to leader

MOD 70:

1 : Spindrift (Yann Guichard) à 458,33 miles to finish
2 : Oman Air-Musandam (Sidney Gavignet) à 3,28 miles to leader
3 : Edmond de Rothschild (Sébastien Josse) à 5,14 miles to leader
4 : Virbac-Paprec 70 (Jean-Pierre Dick) à 7,80 miles to leader

MAXI80:

1 : Prince de Bretagne (Lionel Lemonchois) à 466,19 miles to finish


Charles Caudrelier, (Edmond de Rothschild): 'We had between 18-22kts of wind, started to tack upwind, the wind came back around, we took off again and accelerated downwind in 20-25 kts. The problem is the sea with a heavy NW'ly swell that is not easy to deal with, but we managed to get back up with the pack. The speeds are impressive, but that's normal for these boats. As soon as there's a little wind sailing downwind, these boats take off, but the problem is they're taking a pounding with these nasty seas, and as we are racing we are forced to push them hard..We're going along 28-30kts we are hitting the sea coming towards us and banging up and down on the waves. There are noises coming from everywhere on the boat. But we're making headway...

We had a long tack last that night, so we got some rest, we got into the watched very early because it will be a complicated passage. Meantime we have goggles to protect us but no helmets. We are watching the wind in the depression, looking for the rotation around the centre within the next two or three hours. We are all in visual contact with Oman Air-Musandam are no more than 200 metres away, Prince de Bretagne is to leeward, Virbac-Paprec 70 a bit behind us and Spindrift just a bit ahead.'

Yann Guichard (Spindrift): 'The night was OK. After we got the points at Cascais my pals let me get some sleep so I was in good shape later in the night and this morning. There was a wind of around 20kts and the seas were quite small. But now it is more complicated as we are heading towards the centre of the depression to the get the rotation. The wind is unsettled and we are going into the seas, the boat is slamming and always jumping. At the helm it takes a lot of concentration. And even more so because we are all in sight of each other. It is all a bit tricky. We are under gennaker and going fast, but because of the seas we are not pressing super hard. The atmosphere is like being in a washing machine. In a few hours there will be a gybe for the fleet. The goal is to stay east of the depression and then we will be heading for the Fastnet which should be quick. The winds will be lighter after Fastnet with the possibility of a re-start in the Irish sea.'

Gilles Lamiré (Rennes - Saint-Malo Agglomeration): 'It is now soften, here, this morning we are under gennaker, we are moving away from the depression is now lighter with the wind atabout 13 knots. In front of us, there is a little cell and try to take advantage of the rotation of the wind that is moving from the left to the north-northeast, and then after to the east. So we took the opportunity to try to cut the ridge where there would be more wind. We know we have lost a lot, it is hoped that this configuration will now allow us to pick up a Route des Princes

Cyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERMaritimo 2023 S-Series FOOTERBoat Books Australia FOOTER

Related Articles

SLAM ETNZ Deck Hoody - Now just €50
Price Drop: SLAM ETNZ Deck Hoody: Was €120 | Now €50 - Order yours today! Price Drop: SLAM ETNZ Deck Hoody: WAS €120 | NOW €50 - Order yours today! Ideal Xmas gift for America's Cup fans! Get your souvenir hoody on the America's Cup champion!
Posted today at 4:04 am
NZ Match Racing Nationals start next Wednesday
16 top competitors will contest the NZ Match Racing Na in what promises to be an electrifying event The New Zealand Match Racing Championship (NZMRC) will take place from November 14th to 17th at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, bringing together 16 top competitors in what promises to be an electrifying event.
Posted today at 2:11 am
36th SCIBS already set to be a showstopper
The much anticipated 36th edition of the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show The much anticipated 36th edition of the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS) is on track to showcase the most spectacular vessels and marine products available in Australia during one of the boating world's most popular weeks.
Posted today at 12:24 am
Conrad Colman: From the Rockies to the Vendée
Competing with a boat which is entirely fossil fuel free Conrad Colman grew up in New Zealand, went to High School and College in America, and then immediately went to Europe having fallen in love with the Vendée Globe.
Posted on 6 Nov
Outline of rules for Vendée Globe 2028 published
The organization has formalized the broad outlines of its new regulations The organization has formalized the broad outlines of its new regulations for the next edition of the Vendée Globe. The fundamental DNA of the race is preserved - a solo round-the-world race, non-stop and without assistance.
Posted on 6 Nov
IRC 2025 Rule text published
Following ratification at the IRC International Congress Following ratification at the IRC International Congress, the IRC Rating Technical Committee has published the IRC 2025 Rule text, now available on the IRC website.
Posted on 6 Nov
SailGP: Canadian team reveal new name
Start of a new era for the Canadian team with a new name, new owner and new driver Start of a new era for the Canadian team with a new name, new owner and new driver. The new NorthStar Team is focussed on performance and purpose with a commitment to inspiring good health and wellbeing.
Posted on 6 Nov
Justine Mettraux: Vendée Globe debut
Ambre Hasson talks with the Swiss skipper of Teamwork-Team Snef This will be Justine Mettraux's first Vendée Globe, but she is no stranger to offshore racing, having competed in many singlehanded and crewed events, including the Figaro, three Ocean Races, the Mini Transat, Transat Jacques Vabre and the Route du Rhum.
Posted on 6 Nov
Double Championship win for Pauline Courtois
Match in Pink by Normandy Elite team clinch victory at Aspen Bermuda Women's Match Racing Regatta France's Pauline Courtois and her Match in Pink by Normandy Elite team of Louise Acker, Maëlenn Lemaître, Sophie Faguet and Laurane Mettraux clinched victory at the 2024 Aspen Bermuda Women's Match Racing Regatta on Sunday.
Posted on 6 Nov
18ft Skiff Sixt Spring Championship update
The Rag leads at the halfway mark The Rag & Famish Hotel team of Harry Price, Max Paul and Finn Rodowicz is currently dominating the Australian 18 Footers League fleet after the first three weeks racing and leads both the 2024-25 season Sixt Spring Championship
Posted on 6 Nov