Neck and neck

THE FIRST NIGHT They promised intensity and a race with no let-up—and it’s already happening. Since departing yesterday, the competitors of the Transat Paprec, now sailing through the Bay of Biscay, have stayed tightly grouped with less than 15 nautical miles separating them laterally. As of the 7 a.m. rankings, Lola Billy and Corentin Horeau (Région Bretagne CMB Océane) were leading the pack.

"I don't think they've slept much..."

Race Director Francis Le Goff reflects on the skippers’ first night in the heart of the Bay of Biscay. After the coastal course and a sprint offshore, the competitors haven’t let each other out of their sight. "The fleet is very compact, very dense—everyone’s hanging in there." With an average speed of around 12 knots, the crews are currently sailing at “fairly similar speeds” and following “routes consistent with the routing forecasts.”

“Everyone’s thinking the same thing: don’t fall behind!”

The gaps are so small that the rankings can shift from one hour to the next. This morning, however, Lola Billy and Corentin Horeau had taken the lead by sailing slightly farther east. Hugo Dhallenne and Charlotte Yven (Skipper Macif, 5th) were 6 miles away laterally, and Anaëlle Pattusch and Hugo Cardon (Humain en action, 17th) were 14 miles out. “Everyone’s saying they can’t afford to be late!” Francis joked.

Also worth noting:

• A strong start from Martin Le Pape and Mathilde Géron (Demain, 3rd)

• A return to the front by Davy Beaudart and Julie Simon (Hellowork, 11th)

• As well as Arno Biston and Vittoria Ripa Di Meana (Article.1, 16th)

And once again, Cindy Brin and Thomas André (Cap St Barth, 6th) continue to hold their own at the front of the fleet.

Conditions are expected to ease slightly throughout the day. But there’s no room for letting up. The fleet is expected to reach La Coruña by late Tuesday.

  OVERNIGHT REACTION

Jules Ducelier and Sophie Faguet (Région Normandie):

“The start was really intense, with a lot of maneuvering during the coastal course. We made a few small mistakes, but we managed to correct them quickly. That allowed us to stay with the right group, and we even managed to take the lead near the Glénan islands. The goal was to get off to a clean start, with no damage and in the right pack—mission accomplished! After that, the night was pretty sporty. Now we’re looking ahead to approaching Cape Finisterre, where lighter winds are forecast. We're trying to pick the right spot to pass.”