A tuesday of challenging contrasts

The eleven mixed duos taking part in the Transat Paprec made good progress overnight and are now heading towards Cape Finisterre on the NW corner of Spain. In the lead since Monday morning, Camille Bertel and Pierre Leboucher (Cap Ingélec) are still clear of the pack today.  There is now some 28 miles between the leaders Cap Ingélec and Race for Science – Verder (Alicia de Pfyffer / Arnaud Machado) in 11^th. 

After a light, difficult Monday the Figaro racers got more wind overnight from Monday to Tuesday, with an easterly flow which built towards Cape Finisterre. “They are probably current in around 25 knots with gusts of 30, and fairly crossed seas as we have a westerly swell,” explains Yann Chateau, deputy race director of the Transat Paprec. “Conditions are a bit tough at the moment, but by noon, they will have almost all got out of this band of strong wind and will find themselves in the lee of  the Spanish mainland. It should ease off and back more NE.” he continues.

Bertel/Leboucher in the lead
Having taken a course more east and south than the rest of the fleet yesterday, Camille Bertel and Pierre Leboucher, were making a solid 11-12 knots in the lead this morning. “I think their choice paid off when crossing the ridge yesterday morning in the sense that the got across quicker and smoother than the others. They stopped a little less. But a high pressure ridge is never very well modeled. And even if we see that they are ahead on the map, in depth, that is to say in distance to the goal, there is not yet much difference. They are only half an hour ahead of the others,” observes Chateau. 

Next choice is whether to go inside or outside the TSS at Finisterre DST (traffic separation scheme editor’s note), it is still difficult to know what choices the duos will make and the models disagree. 

“When we see the course of the boats at the moment, we have the impression that they are going to pass outside the TSS, which lengthens the route but allows us to be less in the lee of Spain, but we must not don't forget that the wind will drop and turn to the left. It is possible that some pass inside and others outside. In any case, on the routings, it is possible. Afterwards, we are still at the start of the transat. Most of them sail within sight of AIS. They may stay together, ”he adds. 

Right now they may have 25-30 knots with cross seas, this evening they will be in 5 knots of wind with a light westerly swell", says Yann Chateau.