TRANSAT JACQUES VABRE

http://transat-jacques-vabre.geovoile.com/2011/



Transat Jacques Vabre – Hugo Boss leads after a hard night 'PRB - Transat Jacques Vabre 2011' Alexis Courcoux Click Here to view large photo It has been hard night for the IMOCA Open 60 fleet in the Transat Jacques Vabre, racing north of the Azores from Le Havre to Puerto Limon, Costa Rica. To the east, the Class 40 fleet are yet to encounter the violent front. Actual, south of the Azores, is the Multi 50 leader, with the toughest period yet to be faced for that fleet too. Vincent Riou on Vendée Globe winner PRB, is heading to the Azores for a pit-stop to see what they can do about a fracture in a forward bulkhead. With the passage of the front and winds of 35-40kts last night, Vincent Riou and Hugues Destremau checked to ensure the boat was not damaged. At 0430hrs CET they reported that the bulkhead of the forward sail locker is cracked. According to the duo there is no water ingress but they plan to head to the Azores to assess. 'I think it is better to go there and see what we can do, given the future wind and sea states, rather than risk anything.' They have said they will head for the island of Terceira where they plan to dock at Praia de Vitoria. The duo were making 8-9kts towards the haven and were around 100 miles away. 'I think we will need at least three days to complete the necessary repairs.' Riou reported to his team this morning. Cheminées Poujoulat - Transat Jacques Vabre 2011 - ThMartinez_- Sea & Co - Copyright Click Here to view large photo Cheminées Poujoulat reported to race directors last night that they had a leak with water coming in from the starboard bow. They are around 140 miles north of the Azores and had slowed the boat, heading in an easterly direction early this morning while they decide what they can do. In staying with the northern route the Hugo Boss duo Alex Thomson and Guillermo Altadil expected it to be bad last night, but the passage of the front was as it was expected and this morning the leaders were in good shape, sailing in 34-45kts of wind, and they are leading the pack on the chase to the SW now after tacking. They are in the north, Banque Populaire are on the middle course are in third and Macif were just 40 miles N of Faial in the Azores this morning. On the 0800hrs ranking Hugo Boss lead Jean-Pierre Dick and Jérémie Beyou by 5.5 miles with Banque Populaire in third at 30 miles behind. They were expecting about another 24 hours of stormy weather. Guillermo Altadil (ESP), co-skipper Hugo Boss said this morning: 'The night was OK, we were sailing with winds of 35 kts with gusts to 45 kts. Now at the moment the sea state is OK, it is sailable and we are trying to keep the boat together and not break too many things. It is going to be like this for another 24 hours, maybe calmer through today to 35kts, probably tonight more – up to 50kts, so I think it will be 24 hours, We are doing our normal watch system but have been just discussing the long term strategy after this low pressure, how we negotiate the high pressure in front with no wind, but first of all we have to come from this storm with the boat in one piece.' The official retirement of DCNS 1000 of Marc Thiercelin who was racing with former world cup downhill ski racer Luc Alphand, was confirmed last night. They have suffered serious power charging problems which they have been unable to solve. Class 40 As the leaders prepared for the front which there was little change at the top of the fleet with Aquarelle still leads their British rivals on Concise 2 by 9.1 miles. They have yet to encounter the nasty frontal system. Third placed ERDF Les Pieds et Les Mains are 90 miles behind the leader now. Guillermo Altadil (ESP), co-skipper Hugo Boss: 'The night was OK, we were sailing with winds of 35 kts with gusts to 45 kts. Now at the moment the sea state is OK, it is sailable and we are trying to keep the boat together and not break too many things. It is going to be like this for another 24 hours, maybe calmer through today to 35kts, probably tonight more – up to 50kts, so I think it will be 24 hours, We are doing our normal watch system but have been just discussing the long term strategy after this low pressure, how we negotiate the high pressure in front with no wind, but first of all we have to come from this storm with the boat in one piece.' Yannick Bestaven on Aquarelle.com, leader of the fleet of Class 40 at the start of the front. 'It is just starting, with 30kts from the south and we are in the beginning of the front which will last about six hours. We are making 11kts, it is slamming but you get used to it. We are under staysail and two reefs at the moment with the third ready to go because we expect 40kts.' Jean-Pierre Dick on Virbac-Paprec 3, the IMOCA Open 60 in second place. 'We have been through the worst of the front with a wind shift four hours ago, with gusts to 40-42kts. It was hard, powerful stuff. It was almost a winter low, with a lot of wind and rain. The boat, Virbac-Paprec 3 seems tough. We took the northern option rather more difficult so I hope it pays. We take the worst of the depression and so we try to maximise the gains from it.'

( http://www.sail-world.com/Europe/index.cfm? SEID=0&Nid=90419&SRCID=0&ntid=0&tickeruid=0&tickerCID=0)