General Situation:
This Friday, sustained southwesterly flow in the Channel between an anticyclone at 1019 hPa, centered on Belarus and a depression at 985 hPa (former hurricane Ernesto), centered on Scotland.
Saturday, sustained westerly flow in the Channel between an anticyclone at 1027 hPa centered north of the Azores and a depression at 987 hPa centered between Iceland and Scotland.
Sunday, anticyclonic edge situation with a ridge stretching from the Azores to Germany. Weak to moderate southwesterly flow in the Channel.
Weather conditions in Rouen
Friday August 23
Very cloudy to overcast skies with the possibility of a few drops.
Wind: sustained southwest flow at 25-30 km/h this morning (gusts to 55 km/h) then weakening to 10-15 km/h this afternoon (gusts 40 km/h)
Temperatures: 19 to 22°C
Chance of precipitation: 50%
Weather trend in Le Havre
Saturday August 24
Very cloudy skies with the passage of a very active rain front with sustained and lasting rain from mid-morning to late afternoon.
Wind: moderate southerly flow, 15 to 20 km/h (gusts to 40 km/h) in the morning, turning moderate west in the afternoon (25 to 30 km/h and gusts to 40 km/h)
Temperatures: 17 to 20°C
Chance of precipitation: 100%
Weather conditions for departure from Le Havre this Sunday, August 25 at 3 p.m.
After having delivered from Rouen to Le Havre this Friday 23 August, the skippers will set sail from the Bay of Seine this Sunday 25 August at 3pm. The start will therefore take place under light wind and sea conditions. The skippers will make their exit from the Bay of Seine under a light west-north-west flow of 10-15 knots. The conditions will therefore be ideal to guarantee a great show for this start of the race in Le Havre. The reliability of this forecast is now 80% with still some small variations in wind direction possible, between the southwest-west and the northwest-west. Note that on the sky side, beautiful clearings are expected with some denser cloud passages and a low risk of showers.
Sea conditions this Sunday August 25 and following night
The first hours of sailing this Sunday will still take place under these light westerly wind conditions. However, from the end of the afternoon, the westerly flow will strengthen a little, around 15-20 knots, as the skippers move away from the coast a little. The sailors will have to tack a few times, with the wind in their face and in order to stay on course towards the Cap de la Hague. The sea will be calm with waves of 0.5 to 1 metre. The conditions will remain stable throughout the first evening then in the second part of the night, the wind will take a little left, to turn to the southwest sector between 12 and 17 knots, which will allow them to maintain a speed of around 7-8 knots. The fleet should round the Cap de la Hague this Monday at the end of the night.
Sea conditions this Monday, August 26
Early this Monday morning, the fleet will have to avoid the first DST zone "Casquets" to the south. After passing Cape Hague, the skippers will no longer be sheltered and the southwesterly flow will strengthen slightly, to around twenty knots. The sea will also become a little rougher with waves of up to 1.5 metres. The sailors will then set course for the tip of British Cornwall and continue to sail in the morning under a moderate southwesterly flow. In the afternoon, the southwesterly flow should gradually weaken to around 10 knots and then in the evening, it will take a little more left, to settle to the south. The skippers will then progress by reaching in the approach to the English coast. It should reach the tip of Cornwall at the very end of the night.