Please select your home edition
Edition
Allen Dynamic 40 Leaderboard

Arkéa Ultim Challenge - Brest day 47 morning update

by Andi Robertson 22 Feb 07:49 GMT 22 February 2024

Patient, prudent and poised...

In Horta in the Azores, ARKÉA ULTIM CHALLENGE-Brest leader Charles Caudrlier and his team are remaining patient. In second place Thomas Coville crossed the Equator yesterday afternoon whilst the race's three other sailors are climbing the South Atlantic.

On Brest's Quai du Commandant Malbert, everything is ready to welcome the first winner of the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE - Brest. But because of ferocious weather on the Bay of Biscay Charles Caudrelier is stopped in Horta, sheltering from the strong gales.

At 1189 miles from the finish line, or around 36 hours of racing, Charles Caudrelier is poised for the final attack, the last climb to the summit. But he needs to wait for the first, most suitable weather window to go. But the big question right now is 'when'? He might take advantage of a small window for a Sunday arrival or if he waited until the first depression has fully cleared Biscay it could be Monday. Only when the Gitana team make official their decision as to when Caudrelier will leave the Azores can a finish programme be projected.

Having entered the intertropical convergence zone on the afternoon of February 20, Thomas Coville on Sodebo Ultim 3 is about to extricate himself from the doldrums glue pot. He is into a light north-easterly wind but there is a big anticyclonic zone which will block his direct route to the Bay of Biscay.

Unless he chooses the shortest, direct route which needs a series of transitions, Coville could head west to take advantage of the winds coming in from with the low pressure train, but he would sail many more miles. With a boat close to its maximum capacities, thanks to the work of his technical team during the stopover in Hobart, the former solo round the world record holder will likely go for the higher speed option. His finish into Brest could take place on February 29 or March 1.

Coville is currently 600 miles ahead of Armel Le Cléac'h who is who is currently sailing in the southeast trade winds. He might benefit from a small opening in the doldrums and get to the Equator in one and a half days.

The weather is transitioning in the southern hemisphere. Currently heading upwind in a northerly flow, fourth placed Anthony Marchand will eventually hit a westerly wind which will allow him to follow a more direct course north. Then within 24 hours, the skipper of Actual Ultim 3 should be sailing downwind. He climb towards the equator should be quite brisk. So it should also be for Éric Péron, who needs to choose between an easterly route which would take him south of the Falkland Islands. He would then sail upwind, but on a direct route. Or he can go west, towards the coast, on a route which is a little less direct, but which could prove to be profitable if he can get into the downwind conditions closer to land.

Follow the race tracking on www.arkeaultimchallengebrest.com/en

Related Articles

Éric Péron finishes fifth and completes the circle
Bringing the first edition of the Arkéa Ultim Challenge - Brest to a close Éric Péron sailing ULTIM ADAGIO crossed the finish line of the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE - Brest at 14 h 44 27" to finish in fifth position, the final skipper to complete the 22, 460 nautical miles course which started on Sunday 7th January. Posted on 13 Mar
Anthony Marchand interview
"It took longer than expected but for me it was 64 days of training for the next one." Anthony Marchand: "It took longer than expected but for me it was 64 days of training for the next one." Posted on 11 Mar
Anthony Marchand on Actual Ultim 3 finishes
Fourth in the Arkéa Ultim Challenge - Brest French solo skipper Anthony Marchand took fourth place on the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE - Brest this afternoon when he sailed the ULTIM Actual Ultim 3 across the finish line off Brest at 14:08:21hrs UTC. Posted on 11 Mar
Arkéa Ultim Challenge-Brest day 63
Yves Le Blevec: "Antho has shown incredible commitment" For a good few days now the pleasures that Yves Le Blevec has enjoyed in running routes for Anthony Marchand have been heightened all the more as the finish line of the ARKÉA ULTIM CHALLENGE-Brest is the final point on each and every route. Posted on 9 Mar
Arkéa Ultim Challenge-Brest day 62
Friday's routers replay. “and now, the end is near...” After more than 60 days at sea, Anthony Marchand (Actual Ultim 3, 4th) and Éric Péron (ULTIM ADAGIO, 5th) are getting into their last weekend on the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE - Brest. Posted on 8 Mar
Arkéa Ultim Challenge-Brest day 61
Éric Péron (ULTIM ADAGIO): "I'm proud to be among those who dared" A round the world race is a concentrated package of everything - doubts, moments of great joy, damage and small victories. After days on end in light airs, Éric Péron is back in testing conditions in the trade winds. Posted on 7 Mar
Arkéa Ultim Challenge-Brest day 60
Climbing north The two skippers still racing on the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE-Brest continue their northwards progress. Éric Péron (ULTIME ADAGIO, 5th), who crossed the equator last night, is finally done with the doldrums. Posted on 6 Mar
Arkéa Ultim Challenge-Brest day 59
Anthony Marchand: "It's not been easy!" Fourth placed ARKÉA ULTIM CHALLENGE-Brest skipper Anthony Marchand has really been feeling the fatigue recently. His last few days have been especially trying. Posted on 5 Mar
Arkéa Ultim Challenge-Brest day 58
Reasons to be cheerful, times three With Caudrelier, Coville, Le Cléac'h now finished the ARKÉA ULTIM CHALLENGE-Brest in first, second and third respectively, all eyes are now on the two skippers still racing, Anthony Marchand is fourth and 301 miles behind him is Éric Péron in fifth. Posted on 4 Mar
Le Cléac'h finishes Arkea Ultim Challenge-Brest
Maintaining his record of finishing on the podium on all three of his solo round the world races Armel Le Cléac'h, winner of the 2016-17 Vendée Globe, maintained his record of finishing on the podium on all three of his solo round the world races so far when he crossed the finish line to complete the ARKÉA ULTIM CHALLENGE-Brest. Posted on 3 Mar