Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe - Day 20
by Sabina Mollart Rogerson 21 Nov 2014 19:13 GMT
21 November 2014
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Grey Power flourishing © RKJ
As the bulk of the Class 40 fleet in the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe file in to the finish in Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe Friday with their stories to tell, the fight for the remaining places in the Rhum Class of the 3,542 miles solo Transatlantic Race from Saint-Malo is intensifying with every mile. British ocean sailing pioneer Sir Robin Knox-Johnston is firmly in the middle of a white hot three cornered sea battle for second and third places.
This Friday afternoon with 184 miles to the finish, Knox-Johnston who has marked his return to ocean racing at the age of 75, after a 7 years absence, with a dogged, determined race has highlighted his sheer competitiveness which has seemingly spiked even more as the race to the finish intensifies.
He has been working hard to maintain the consistently high average speeds. This afternoon he had reduced his deficit to Andrea Mura on the Open50 Vento di Sardegna to just 38 miles. Since he was north of the Cape Verde Islands nine days ago Sir Robin has reeled in 200 miles on Mura. The experienced solo skipper from Cagliari, Sardinia won the class at a canter in 2010 and is building a brand new boat for the next Vendée Globe race around the world, but he and all the other top contenders have this time been outgunned and outclassed by Anne Caseneuve on a Multi50 trimaran, who finished two days ago.
In turn Sir Robin has Wilfred Clerton on the famous former Kriter VII - a 70 foot cigar slim ULDB - chasing him about 37 miles behind. The key to the remaining podium places will almost certainly be the final 45 miles around the west of the island, fighting through the calms which are created by the high land blanketing the prevailing E'ly trade winds. Although they are lining up like ducks this evening, further compression does seem inevitable. Mura should be the first into the light and more random breezes while Sir Robin should hold the breeze longer and close miles. By day a battle between the synoptic gradient breeze and the thermal breezes is expected - in short the winds will be confused and messy close to the land.
Predicting what time these three finishers arrive at the line Saturday, and in what order, is a moveable feast. Sir Robin on the vintage Open 60 Grey Power has sail power and waterline length advantage on both his rivals and has been consistently quicker through Friday.
And a clear indication that he is giving his all is that he has requested radio silence through Friday as he summons his energy and focus for the final miles.
Giancarlo Pedote, Class40 Fantastica, crossed the line in 10th place
At 4:26 42 seconds AM on Friday 21 November, Giancarlo Pedote crossed the finish line onboard the Class 40 Fantastica by Lanfranco Cirillo.
18 days, 14 hours, 26 minutes and 43 seconds for a tenth position that has been a real challenge.
Analysis time by Leslie Greenhaugh
This 10th edition of the Route du Rhum has lived up to our expectations as spectators. The start of the race was both bracing and demanding, where man and gear were really put to the test. What followed was a complicated transition between the Azores and Portugal, before gradually dropping down onto the tradewind route, where the rhythm was just as strong as ever. The latter is evidenced by the brand new outright monohull record for the event, despite the difficult conditions.
For some, breakage threw a spanner in the works and we obviously spare a thought for Bertrand de Broc (Votre Nom autour du Monde), who was forced to retire after just two days of racing, and Vincent Riou (PRB), of whom we expected great things from his battle with François Gabart. Vincent was the only IMOCA skipper to have opted to make the switch to the new class measurement. To be able to gauge the effects of this new arrangement would have provided a number of lessons for the future...
François Gabart (MACIF):
The most striking memory: "The final tack before Guadeloupe. I savoured it but at the same time I felt sad to be leaving the boat and I cast my mind forward to four years' time when I'll return on a multihull..."
Did this Route du Rhum live up to your expectations?: "If they'd told me how things would pan out four years ago, I wouldn't have believed them. I was looking for a challenge and that's what I got. Added to that, I've always said that the first time you do things is always something special."
Jérémie Beyou: (Maître CoQ):
The most striking memory: "The night following the passage around the Azores. I'd caught up with François and we were embroiled in a heated exchange in a strong wind of 30 knots, making headway downwind under large spinnaker. It was lively."
Did this Route du Rhum live up to your expectations?: "Pretty much yes. I thought it would be very full-on physically. I was expecting a great battle with François and Vincent and it never crossed my mind that Vincent would retire. To my mind there weren't any big discrepancies between the boats. I hope the same will be true once we've all adopted the new class measurement. In this Route du Rhum, there was only one retirement due to material damage, which is good. We mustn't exceed this quota for the upcoming races."
Marc Guillemot (Safran):
The most striking memory: "The start of the race required a great deal of energy and close attention. We had to extricate ourselves from the English Channel with winds of over 35 knots in the gusts and reduced visibility. We got straight down to business. We had to be really incisive to tack at the right point and ensure we made some good sail changes. I loved it."
Did this Route du Rhum live up to your expectations?: "No race can be in line with what you expect at the start. I was simply expecting a tough test and that's how the race panned out. This edition was one of the most intense events I've participated in since my career began. It was tough and comprehensive, which is exactly what makes sailing such a rich sport."
Armel Tripon (For Humble Heroes):
The most striking memory: "The start with the hordes of boats around us and Cape Fréhel with the crowds swarming along the cliff edge to bid you farewell and wish you well. At the start, you think you know the people who call out to you on the boats accompanying you and then you realise that no, they are there for us all and for the magic of the race. At that point you realise how lucky you are to be there and you try to take in lots of images as you're powering along so that you capture the special atmosphere."
Did this Route du Rhum live up to your expectations?: "I was expecting a hard race and a mighty battle; I'd readied myself for it. However, I hadn't figured on the stress generated by these boats, the constant noise, the sound of the keel bearings whining and the hull slamming and bouncing off the waves. The sonic aggression wore me out; I wasn't prepared for that."
Louis Burton (Bureau Vallée):
The most striking memory: "It was the first time I'd sailed a southern course in the trade winds on an IMOCA. It's really exhilarating to be able to sail these long surfs under spinnaker in the sunshine."
Did this Route du Rhum live up to your expectations?: "Totally: a meaty weather system at the start, surfs in the trade winds and an almighty battle in IMOCA. On a personal level, I'm happy with my result. I thought I'd come 6th or 7th. This 5th place is perfect. This Rhum was essentially a great opportunity to complete a major solo race on this boat."
Alessandro Di Benedetto (Team Plastique):
The most striking memory: "Managing to effect repairs mid-ocean to the rudder attachment, which had pulled out, and completing the race without making a stopover. Resisting Tanguy's comeback by keeping the masthead spinnaker aloft despite the faulty automatic pilots was also a major."
Did this Route du Rhum live up to your expectations?: "Yes, I was expecting a really intense race and that's what happened. It was great. I was racing flat out, in harmony with the boat."
Tanguy de Lamotte (Initiatives Cœur):
The most striking memory: "Exiting the Iroise Sea at 20 knots after managing to repair my rudder damage in Brest with my shore crew. Being able to set sail again was really comforting and it was the result of everyone's teamwork."
Did this Route du Rhum live up to your expectations?: "I clearly wasn't able to satisfy the sporting objectives I'd set myself. However, my aims for saving the children have been far exceeded, as 20 children will be able to receive new hearts. I also got a chance to discover my boat with a view to the Vendée Globe: the sensations are different, but I really enjoyed it."
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