| France. La Route du Rhum la Banque Postale: New 60-footer IMOCA designs under close watch |
|
|
|
| Saturday, 28 October 2006 | |
|
Event media: The Route du Rhum transat is the inevitable stepping-stone for skippers claiming an entry in the next Vendée Globe (2007). Three newborn 60-footer moored in St Malo (PRB, Delta Dore and Temenos) are undergoing the scrutiny of the offshore solo-sailing connaisseurs (amateurs as well as professionals). Bruce Farr (NZ) and Owen/Clark (UK), designers, are lining up respectively 3 and 2 boats (the newest ones) in this class. Anglo-saxon designers are conceiving more and more vessels, gaining the favours of the French skippers. If Vincent Riou (PRB) and Jérémie Beyou (Delta Dore) do not consider themselves as the favourites in this race, their boats stand as a reference for the next generation units to race in the Vendée Globe. These 3 skippers do not seek a clean sweep, but rather need to learn as much as they can from their 60-foot, and compare their performances with the 3 boats setting up to now to the standards in the class: VM Matériaux, Sill Veolia (both Lombard designs, France) and, Virbac-Paprec - the first 60-foot designed by Farr. The favourite skippers are Jean Le Cam, Roland Jourdain and Jean-Pierre Dick. However, Brian Thompson, who says one of the reasons he is here today is linked to seeing Philippe Poupon’s entry in the 98 OSTAR, is standing as a serious outsider. The English skipper will sail on the former Pindar (Owen/Clarke Design- 2002) now displaying the colors of a brand new sponsor, Artemis. On their way to the next Vendée Globe, with new boats to be launched next year, Marc Guillemot (Safran) and Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) have rented “older” boats, only for this Route du Rhum – La Banque Postale. Marc found the ex- Ellen MacArthur Kingfisher, while Armel will leave the dock on the former Sebastien Josse VMI (ex-Sodebo /Thomas Coville). On paper, these boats are less powerfull and less competitive than their fellow competitors, but this transat has always been full of twists and turns. The upper steps of the podium are definitely at hand for those who will use best their sailing experience and skills. The access to the highest ranking will possibly be tougher for Anne Liardet (Roxy), Jean-Baptiste Dejeanty (Maisonneuve Région Basse Normandie) and Philippe Fiston (Adriana Karembeu Paris). Anne, who took the reins of the former Vincent Riou PRB, knows she will have to face Le Cam, Jourdain, Thompson, Riou, Beyou and Wavre, the most competitive racers. As for Jean-Baptiste Dejeanty, at the helm of the ex-Gallileo, he needs to assess the power of his boat, which was launched in 2005. Philippe Fiston’s aim is clear: be the first Guadeloupean to finish the race on a 60-footer Imoca. Weather forecast: The high-pressure system should settle on the north of France today, with the centre of it not far away from the north of Brittany, around 12 noon on Sunday. Wind direction on the starting line is therefore going to be hard to judge. Winds should be between 5 and 15 knots, with a calm sea. Cloudy sky, but no rain. For the start of the race: Competitors will try to get out the anticyclone area as soon as possible, which is situated very high on the map this year. The low pressure system is positioned on the Azores. This unusual situation should lead to very interesting weather tactics within the fleet. www.routedurhum-labanquepostale.com |
|
| Last Updated ( Saturday, 28 October 2006 ) |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|