New York Vendée-Les Sables d'Olonne - Day 2
by Vendée Globe Press Office 31 May 19:03 BST
31 May 2024
Paprec Arkéa - New York Vendée-Les Sables d'Olonne day 2 © Julien Champolion - polaRYSE / Paprec Arkéa / NYV2024
Outstanding winner of the last two solo Transatlantic races - the first singlehanded IMOCA events of his career so far - Yoann Richomme conceded a handful miles to his rivals last night, the second of the New York- Vendeé solo IMOCA race from New York to Les Sables d'Olonne.
But the hugely talented French skipper was today keeping cool, working hard to catch up and studying the best routing through a low pressure system which he considers may yet prove a pivotal point on what is already looking like a relatively slow, tactical race across 'the Pond' back to France, rather than a record breaking downwind charge.
And while - in some camps - hopes and expectations may be high that Richomme could earn his solo Transat hat trick on this, the last big race before this winter's Vendée Globe, he cautioned today that he is also using this race to test sails and ideas before locking them into his design choices for his first challenge for the Vendée Globe'
Unaccustomed as I am... Richomme playing catch up
Richomme, skipper of Paprec Arkéa, reported this morning, "I took quite a southerly position in the fleet, I was trying to decide as late as I could between two options, one was to go above the low pressure but that felt a bit messy yesterday, and I delayed that decision until this morning and that meant I had to drop my big gennaker this morning and head back up north and so that cost me quite a few miles, but I wanted to hold that option in the south in case it opened up for me. It didn't. And so now I am trying to follow the leaders through a small gap which will open tomorrow morning (Saturday) which will allow us to cross it and reach on starboard tack. So obviously I now have a few miles to catch up but there is a long way to go. Now I have six really good boats in from and it is going to be really hard to catch up."
In his strong American accent the bilingual naval architect explains, "It's all fine. I have a few things to test on this Transat. I don't mind trying to play catch up. There are some options that I have with the big gennaker that I have so I wanted to get a feel for that, see how it might compare to the others. I might not always be doing the right thing, but I want to make sure I get the most out of this Transat for the future, for the Vendée Globe."
The 40-year-old Richomme was still lying seventh, a good 18 miles behind sixth placed Brit Sam Goodchild (Vulvernable) and 38 miles behind Germany's race leader this afternoon, Boris Herrmann (Malizia-Seaexplorer) who is closest to the rhumb line, most north of the leading group, and was holding an advantage of about three miles ahead of Charlie Dalin (MACIF Santé-Prévoyance)
Richomme considers the next 24-36 hours could yet prove decisive, "I think this small passage through this front tomorrow morning, could contract or expand the fleet depending on the timing which way we go. It is hard because we have now already taken the northerly route. The (weather) models really disagree and there are some light spots in the Atlantic. The two main weather models have been so different it is hard to know which is going to prevail."
Sam Davies: in the mix with a moving target
In advance of Saturday morning's conundrum - which will mean squally, unsettled weather again - British solo racer Sam Davies (Initiatives Coeur) was today making sure she is well rested to guarantee she is on top form for what promises to be a challenging weekend. She is buoyed up full of energy, confidence and drive, looking to consolidate on her third place on the outward race.
"I'm working hard at the weather right now after I had a lot of good sleep last night. The first 48 hours have been so intense" Said Davies in ninth today, taking time out from the daily radio call to alert a nearby cargo ship to her course and position, "The traffic out here.....(laughs)....But the forecasts are not perfect. We must try to position ourselves well for this system. The problem is that the little depression we're talking about is moving in the same direction as us and we have to be careful not to get stuck in it. On the other hand, because the current is moving with us too it has a great influence on our effective course because it influences the angle of the wind."
"I hope I'm not too far south. I am well rested as we likely will have a lot of sail changes to make. We will have to be on top of our game."
It's different going this way...
And in a respectable 14th, just beside France's Vendée Globe winner Yannick Bestaven, Pip Hare (Medallia) is coming to terms with the novel challenges of racing east, in the direction of travel of the weather systems....
Hare called in this afternoon, "It has been quite challenging so far, mentally challenging more so. I think we are so used to racing in 'our part of the world where the weather systems are coming towards us, that sets a pattern for these races and so now, this is really different. The weather systems are moving away from us. The high pressure system is very far north and mixed in with the Gul Stream it is making life not easy out here. I am in an area of light, unstable breezes right now, struggling to get foiling and so my 'super powers' have been reduced."
No pressure....
After ensuring his Vendée Globe qualification on the race westwards, Belgium's Denis van Weynbergh (Groupe D'Ieteren) is now determined to fully enjoy the New York-Vendée race back to his adopted home port of Les Sables d'Olonne. Racing alongside his Hungarian friend and rival Szabi (Szabolcs Weöres, New Europe) yesterday the two took time to take images and video of each other. Van Weybergh - who races the former Spirit of Hungary - was 26th - some nine miles ahead of Szabi.
The Belgian skipper said, "The first period has been quite hard for me. On the night before the start, whilst coming out to the start I had some problems with my pilot and it took a lot of energy and work to fix it. I have it working now. And I had some problems with my headsail, but it is all good now, bit o need to get more rest. I am determined to enjoy this race as the pressure of qualifying for the Vendée Globe is now off, that has been with me on every race all the time and so this is different now, time to enjoy it"
Canada's Scott Shawyer (Be Water Positive) is finding his rhythm on his very first IMOCA solo ocean race and is feeling no pressure either as it is the 2028 Vendée Globe which is his long term goal.
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