METEO CONSULT weather bulletin for Monday, April 21

General situation

This Monday, moderate west-northwest flow over the Bay of Biscay, between a depression centered at 1010 hPa in the North Sea and an anticyclone centered at 1027 hPa south of the Azores archipelago.

On Tuesday, the Azores High at 1028 hPa extends along a ridge south of the Bay of Biscay through Galicia, Spain, with light wind conditions. A weak to moderate southwesterly wind pattern is observed along the northern edge of the ridge.

Wednesday, moderate and slightly disturbed westerly flow over the southern Bay of Biscay. A 1028 hPa high pressure system is centered midway between the Azores and Portugal, with a ridge of high pressure toward La Coruña and a moderate northerly flow south of the ridge, along the Portuguese coast.

Weather conditions at sea for the Transat Paprec

This Monday at 7 a.m., the 19 mixed duo crews on Figaro Bénéteau 3 were sailing on the Bay of Biscay, at the latitude of Vendée. The fleet was compact with 12 duos in the first 5 miles of the race led by Lola Billy and Corentin Horeau on Région Bretagne – CMB Océane. After passing a disturbed front during the night with tack changes to make, they were sailing in a northwesterly wind of around twenty knots with a trajectory close to the direct route and some small lateral shifts within the fleet.

Monday, April 21 :

In the morning, the sailors are making good progress across the Bay of Biscay, at a brisk pace, in the heart of the Bay of Biscay under a northwesterly wind of 17 to 20 knots. As squalls pass, gusts can reach 25 to 28 knots. In this speed race, they are putting a little westerly into their route to anticipate a shift in the wind to the left in the coming hours. The fleet will remain compact with few chances to play in this sustained northwesterly wind regime. In the afternoon, the sailors will see the wind significantly ease, to 10-11 knots, as they take a little left to steer west-northwest. With a less favorable wind angle and less sustained wind, the skippers will inexorably slow down in a sea that will remain choppy with a westerly swell of around 2 meters. They will have to anticipate the arrival of a ridge of high pressure from the south with increasingly weak and irregular winds. The game will open with different trajectory options that will be taken by the skippers. Some will try to position themselves as far west as possible to stay on the edge of the ridge of high pressure and keep some air, even if it means extending their route. Others will prefer a more direct route but with the risk of finding themselves very slowed down under the ridge of high pressure. A difficult weather situation that risks putting the sailors' nerves to the test. With a very unpredictable wind on the race course, some could pull out all the stops and enjoy good gusts while others will be in the doldrums.

Tuesday, April 22 :

On Tuesday morning, on the fringes of a low pressure system in the North Atlantic, the wind will shift to the southwest and blow between 7 and 10 knots on the northern edge of the ridge of high pressure that will be installed over Galicia. With this southwest wind direction, they will sail close-hauled with a south-southwest heading. In the afternoon, the southwest wind will strengthen a little to reach 10-12 knots, shifting slightly to the right. The sailors will be able to pick up a little speed and get closer to the Spanish coast with a passage between the DST and Galicia, which should be the option chosen by most sailors, to seek the downwind south of Cape Finisterre. It is in the first part of the night from Tuesday to Wednesday that the first skippers should pass the latitude of Cape Finisterre, under a fairly irregular westerly wind with maneuvers and sail changes to be made.

Wednesday, April 23

Wind conditions will improve this Wednesday with a northerly flow of around ten knots, which will allow for downwind sailing along the Iberian coast, towards Porto. With a wind coming from behind the boat, they will have to gybe to maintain a good angle to the wind and build speed. The gaps are likely to become significant between the leaders who will have managed to escape from the ridge of high pressure at the start of the night and the last ones who will still be in light airs this Wednesday morning. Things are likely to start strongly up front, with a northerly wind that will gain in intensity towards Portugal. By the end of the day, the leaders will be sailing under a northerly wind of close to 20 knots. The gaps will therefore quickly widen...

Thursday, April 24

During the night from Wednesday to Thursday, a real speed race will be established between the sailors, with the frontrunners remaining favored with a brisk northerly wind of around twenty knots. They will continue their descent in steps with regular gybes to perform. The first skippers should reach the latitude of Lisbon by midday. They will then be able to begin a long tack towards Madeira under a still brisk northerly wind, close to 20 knots.

Full bulletin here: https://marine.meteoconsult.fr/