The boats in the Transat Jacques Vabre have finally left port after several days of weather delays. Here’s what some of the skippers have to say about the start.
Alex Thomson (GBR), skipper IMOCA Open 60 Hugo Boss: “It certainly looks better than it did last Sunday. It looks reach-y and fast. You get what you get. The key for us will be just trying to get the boat going as fast as we can, but everyone is probably looking at the same things, it is about boat speed. Generally I am not too bad at that but then obviously we don’t know this boat too well. I am super relaxed now after a couple of days at home…sleeping in my own bed makes such a difference. It will be just a straight boat speed race for the first bit, the first 36 hours, then a light winds patch, so it will be important to be near the front. The people who get into the new breeze first will extend. We have to cross the high pressure in a couple of days, the 4-5th Nov, everything looks quite simple. The models are reasonably agreeing now.”
Arnaud Boissières (FRA), skipper Akena Verandas: “Before the start you always a knot in your stomach because it’s still a race to cross the Atlantic on this type of boat. There is always excitement. It always feels like the start of my first race. We will have great conditions, it will race by and we will start very quickly. In the first 24 hours, those who say they go to sleep will be telling fibs! Visibility may be reduced at the transition to the Raz Blanchard where there is usually a lot of traffic. We will go fast but it will not be too bad, but you have to look after your equipment, it is important to get out of the Channel itself. ”
For the complete story, go to www.transat-jacques-vabre.com.
