© M. Mochet/RDP
When they left the National YC dock this morning they were leaving race leader Spindrift tied forlornly to the pontoon. Plans to dive to recover the rig – broken when they capsized on Saturday - sails and standing rigging are well advanced, weather dependent.
On the initial, short 7.2 miles circuit before leaving Dublin Bay it was Virbac-Paprec 70 and FenêtréA-Cardinal which took command of the MOD70 and Multi 50 classes respectively, but this penultimate offshore leg to Plymouth promises to be very tactical, peppered with several zones of stop-start sailing. Once more a close finish, in light winds, is anticipated by the MOD70 skippers. As well as the sunshine and very light winds, there will be rain clouds at times, thick fog banks and strong tidal currents along the south coast of England, all providing different challenges or opportunities for the teams.
Leg 2 from Lisbon to Dun Laoghaire, Ireland was notable for successive opportunities for crews to claw back miles when the leaders slowed into light winds first, and on Leg 3, even more of this compression and even re-starts are anticipated.
The Multi50 course has been shortened to 345 miles by eliminating Fastnet Rock from the route which was originally planned for them. For the MOD70’s it will be at least 514 miles to Eddystone Rocks off Plymouth via Fastnet and Bishop Rock where the final marks will be detailed to the MOD70 teams.
All were heading SE this afternoon, working downwind in a fading NW’ly breeze towards Bardsey Island, which lies about 2 miles off the tip of Wales’ Llyn Peninsula. That is the first of the two marks where bonus points are awarded to the class leaders, the second being at Bishop Rock by the Scillies.
First to Bardsey Island was the Ultime 80 of Lionel Lemonchois Prince de Bretagne at 14H25 TU followed by Edmond de Rothshcild taking the two points as first MOD70 at 14h32 UTC.
"We made the decision to shorten the course for the Multi50’s due to the very light weather conditions forecast in the Irish Sea in the next 24 hours. Thus, instead of racing the 514 miles originally planned, they will do 345 "said Sylvie Viant, the Race Director.
For the MOD70’s and Prince de Bretagne the 195 miles section from Bardsey to Fastnet will start mainly upwind into a veering breeze but by the rock they will enter a confused area marking the centre of a low pressure cell. Out of the Fastnet on the course to Bishop Rock there might be the chance for a sudden gain for whichever boat manages to escape first into a W’ly pressure flow but this will die off before the Scillies.
The entire fleet should meet up at Bishop Rock lighthouse where winds will be very light, just 4-5kts at times and then racing on towards Eddystone light and Plymouth where the final finish of the race is expected on Wednesday afternoon. The tidal coefficients are high – between 100 and 105 which means currents might be up to 5-6 knots, and fog banks – especially off the Scillies and into the western English Channel.
The forecast light winds will be ideal for the Route des Princes offshore debut of 20 year old Omani Ahmed Al Hassani. The Oman Sail trainee is delighted at the prospect of building his offshore experience.
On the initial, short 7.2 miles circuit before leaving Dublin Bay it was Virbac-Paprec 70 and FenêtréA-Cardinal which took command of the MOD70 and Multi 50 classes respectively, but this penultimate offshore leg to Plymouth promises to be very tactical, peppered with several zones of stop-start sailing. Once more a close finish, in light winds, is anticipated by the MOD70 skippers. As well as the sunshine and very light winds, there will be rain clouds at times, thick fog banks and strong tidal currents along the south coast of England, all providing different challenges or opportunities for the teams.
Leg 2 from Lisbon to Dun Laoghaire, Ireland was notable for successive opportunities for crews to claw back miles when the leaders slowed into light winds first, and on Leg 3, even more of this compression and even re-starts are anticipated.
The Multi50 course has been shortened to 345 miles by eliminating Fastnet Rock from the route which was originally planned for them. For the MOD70’s it will be at least 514 miles to Eddystone Rocks off Plymouth via Fastnet and Bishop Rock where the final marks will be detailed to the MOD70 teams.
All were heading SE this afternoon, working downwind in a fading NW’ly breeze towards Bardsey Island, which lies about 2 miles off the tip of Wales’ Llyn Peninsula. That is the first of the two marks where bonus points are awarded to the class leaders, the second being at Bishop Rock by the Scillies.
First to Bardsey Island was the Ultime 80 of Lionel Lemonchois Prince de Bretagne at 14H25 TU followed by Edmond de Rothshcild taking the two points as first MOD70 at 14h32 UTC.
"We made the decision to shorten the course for the Multi50’s due to the very light weather conditions forecast in the Irish Sea in the next 24 hours. Thus, instead of racing the 514 miles originally planned, they will do 345 "said Sylvie Viant, the Race Director.
For the MOD70’s and Prince de Bretagne the 195 miles section from Bardsey to Fastnet will start mainly upwind into a veering breeze but by the rock they will enter a confused area marking the centre of a low pressure cell. Out of the Fastnet on the course to Bishop Rock there might be the chance for a sudden gain for whichever boat manages to escape first into a W’ly pressure flow but this will die off before the Scillies.
The entire fleet should meet up at Bishop Rock lighthouse where winds will be very light, just 4-5kts at times and then racing on towards Eddystone light and Plymouth where the final finish of the race is expected on Wednesday afternoon. The tidal coefficients are high – between 100 and 105 which means currents might be up to 5-6 knots, and fog banks – especially off the Scillies and into the western English Channel.
The forecast light winds will be ideal for the Route des Princes offshore debut of 20 year old Omani Ahmed Al Hassani. The Oman Sail trainee is delighted at the prospect of building his offshore experience.
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