The skipper of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild remains at the helm with the Ultims after a first night at sea and despite a four-hour penalty for a stolen start that his team is contesting.
At the helm of the ranking in the Ultims when darkness began to envelop Brittany on Wednesday evening, Charles Caudrelier saw the sun rise Thursday morning still in the shoes of the leader. During this first night at sea, the first major strategic maneuvers took place. Once the Ouessant rail had passed, Caudrelier, Coville (Sodebo), Le Cléac’h (Banque Populaire) and Gabart (SVR-Lazartigue) opted for a track to the west, while Le Blevec (Actuel), Le Vaillant (Mieux) and Joyon (Idec) have decided to sail along the coast before descending towards the Bay of Biscay. Advantage, for the moment to those who have taken off. Caudrelier has built up a very small margin ahead of Coville while Le Cléac’h and Gabart find themselves a little further away.
A perfect start, therefore, for the leader, big favorite for the final victory, except that the native of Fouesnant must deal with a four-hour penalty for having stolen the start. His team contested this sanction and claims to have video evidence as well as a trace. An international jury will have to decide and the decision could fall in the morning. One man did not see the tip of Brittany with the Ultimes: Romain Pillard (Use it Again) who stopped in Roscoff for a stopover after a very slow start from Saint-Malo on Wednesday.
Charlie Dalin dominates the debates in the Imoca
Among the Imoca, the battle is raging. At eight o’clock, the bulk of the peloton had passed the island of Ouessant but a few favorites had already taken to their heels by swinging south. Among them, Charlie Dalin (Apivia) caressed the Breton coast near Douarnenez followed by Thomas Ruyant and a small pack of pursuers who are following their route on that of the sailor Apivia, a fine strategist. The latter is however not at the top of the ranking, officially in any case. The leadership is currently going to Louis Duc (Fives – Lantana), who is taking advantage of his (misleading) position much further north.
Among the Ocean Fifty, Quentin Vlamynk, the westernmost skipper of the pack of these small multihulls, remains at the top of the hierarchy after taking a westerly option in relation to his adversaries. A tussle in which Sam Goodchild could not take part. Injured at the start in the arms and face on Leyton after being the victim of a backlash, the Briton was forced to retire on Wednesday evening. It should be noted that around ten competitors were forced to stop in various Breton ports during the night.
The Ultims ranking at 8:03 a.m.
1. Caudrelier (Edmond de Rothschild) 3272 miles from the finish
2. Coville (Sodebo) at 1.8nm
3. Le Cléac’h (Banque Populaire) at 43.9 nm
4. Gabart (SVR-Lazartigue) at 53.9nm
5. Le Blevec (Actual) at 83.4nm
6. Joyon (Idec Sport) at 124.5nm
7. Le Vaillant (Better) at 128.6 nm
8. Pilliard (Use it Again by Extia) à 177, 8 nm
The Imoca classification at 8:03 a.m.
1. Duc (Fives – Lantana) at 3372 nm from the finish
2. Colman (Imagine) at 11.2nm
3. Bellion (Commeunseulhomme) at 17.7 nm
4. The Turquais (Lazare) at 19.4 nm
5. Boissières (La Mie Câline) at 19.6 nm
6. Bestaven (Master Coq) at 20.1 nm
The Ocean Fifty classification at 8:03 a.m.
1. Vlamynck (Arkema) 3372 miles from the finish
2. Rogues (Primonial) at 15.1nm
3. Le Roux (Koesio) at 15.7 nm
4. Peron (Kimilfo) at 17.9nm
5. Tripon (Les P’tits Doudous) at 21.5 nm
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