METEO CONSULT weather bulletin for Wednesday, April 23

General situation

This Wednesday, a high pressure system is centered midway between the Azores and Portugal and is extending along a ridge of high pressure toward Galicia. A moderate northerly flow is establishing itself along the southeastern edge of the ridge, along the Iberian coast between Vigo and Lisbon.

On Thursday, a sustained north-northeast regime from the coast of Portugal towards Madeira and the Canaries, on the eastern edge of a high-pressure ridge.

On Friday, a fairly strong north-northeast flow between southern Portugal, Madeira and the Canaries, on the southeastern edge of the high pressure system centered on the Azores at 1029 hPa.

Weather conditions at sea for the Transat Paprec

This Wednesday morning at 7am, a real battle was engaged by the first 8 sailors located in the first 3 miles of the race. Over the last few hours, the supporters of a westerly route managed to go a little faster than their competitors on a south-easterly route and were fighting for the first place in the ranking at daybreak. It was the duo of Quentin Vlamynck and Aydrey Ogereau on Les Etoiles Filantes who led the race at 7am, by a short head ahead of Lola Billy and Corentin Horeau on Région Bretagne-CMB Océane. This very tight ranking at the head of the fleet is expected to change regularly but having passed a transition zone in the vicinity of Cape Finisterre, the wind looks much better established this Wednesday and things should start quickly from the front...

Wednesday, April 23

In the morning, the wind will turn north and gradually strengthen, reaching 15 knots by midday in a rough sea with waves coming from the northwest between 1.5 m and 2 m. The objective for the sailors remains to not concede anything to their competitors, trying to find the best possible trajectory in a wind that is becoming more regular and consistent for everyone. The first competitors will reach the strong wind more quickly, so the gap with the tail of the fleet will widen this Wednesday. With a wind coming from the back of the boat, the sailors will have to gybe to maintain a good angle to the wind and optimize their speed. Most of the sailors should set a course southeast towards the Portuguese coast before gybing in the afternoon towards the open sea, with a course southwest, under a northerly wind that will continue to strengthen to 20 knots at the end of the day. It is therefore a real speed race that will begin with this very favorable downwind which will allow them to progress at more than 12 knots on the water.

Thursday, April 24

The Portuguese trade winds will remain brisk and take a slight right turn to veer north-northeast. With this wind close to the great circle (the shortest route to reach La Palma in the Canaries), the sailors will continue to gybe along their route. There will be no real options to play with this fairly steady north-northeast wind of 17 to 20 knots, on the eastern edge of the Azores High. With an average speed expected to be 11-12 knots, the first sailors are expected at the latitude of Lisbon early this Thursday morning and at the latitude of Cape St. Vincent in the evening. They will have started a long tack towards Madeira, on their way to reach the La Palma mark in the Canaries.

Friday, April 25

During this Friday, the sailors will continue their voyage on starboard tack towards Madeira under a still brisk north-northeast wind, close to 20 knots. Approaching Madeira at the end of the day, with the wind shifting slightly to the right, they will have to steer southward on their route to avoid straying too far from the direct route that leads them to La Palma. The first skippers are expected in the middle of the night from Friday to Saturday at the latitude of Madeira.

Saturday, April 26

Most sailors are expected to opt for a route passing through the east of Madeira to benefit from a fast descent between Madeira and the Canaries, under a northeasterly wind that will gain further intensity to reach 22 to 25 knots. They will therefore gain even more speed with possible peaks of 13-14 knots. At this pace, the sailors will have to remain focused and take care of their boats in rough to heavy seas. However, the waves coming from behind the sailboats will not hinder their fast progress. The first sailors could reach La Palma in the middle of the night from Saturday to Sunday, less than 7 days at sea since leaving Concarneau.

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