Approaching the theoretical half way point of Stage 1 this morning, racing off the Ushant TSS, leader Alexis Loison has extended his margin to one nautical mile with Basile Bourgnon (EDENRED) now up to second place. Loison led round Wolf Rock around midnight last night.
From on board the race committee boat, accompanying Race Director Yann Chateau, the British Figaro racer Timothy Long is sending us some short reports from the race track, enjoying the experience but of course just wishing he could be racing. Sadly this time he did not realise the full budget but Long is learning a lot.
“Not a huge amount to report overnight. The fleet rounded Wolf Rock in around 20kts, passing from Code 0 to upwind. After this, there were some interesting fleet racing tactics watching skippers decide when to tack before the TSS exclusion zone in relation to everyone else and their own strategy.
There hasn’t been much leaderboard change yet, but their positioning over the next 12 - 24 hrs is likely going to be pretty crucial I would have thought. Looking at the weather, the southerly is staying stronger for a bit longer in the West. The western boats will also then see a front come through faster with a light NW behind. Although there is of course a case for keeping closer to the French coast for breeze. So it’ll be super interesting to see how it plays out.”
Tom Dolan rounded fifth at 32 minutes behind Loison, Pep Costa 18th.
Rounding times at Wolf Rock – including time bonuses for top three
1 - GROUPE REEL à 00h19 - 5 minutes de bonification
2 - EDENRED à 00h24 - 3 minutes de bonification
3 - REGION BRETAGNE CMB ESPOIR à 00h26 - 1 minute de bonification
4 - SKIPPER MACIF 2022 à 00h26
5 - SMURFIT KAPPA KINGSPAN à 00h32
6 - DEMAIN à 00h34
7 - QUEGUINER LA VIE EN ROSE à 00h35
8 - NAVALEO à 00h38
9 - REGION NORMANDIE à 00h38
10 - TIZH MOR à 00h3811 - REGION BRETAGNE CMB PERFORMANCE 00h39
12 - YCSL PRIMATICE SLB PHARMA à 00h41
13 - SELENCIA CERFRANCE à 00h42
14 - SKIPPER MACIF 2023 à 00h45
15 - MARINE NATIONAL GICAN à 00h44
16 - PASSION SANTE TRANS-FORME à 00h47
17 - ACTUAL à 00h48
18 - VSF SPORTS à 00h48
19 - WINGS OF THE OCEAN à 00h50
20 - ORCOM à 00h5121 - DECROCHONS LA LUNE à 00h51
22 - ALMOND à 00h54
23 - THIS RACE IS FEMALE à 00h54
24 - LES ETOILES FILANTES à 00h55
25 - ENDOBREIZH à 00h56
26 - VERDER SEASTEMIK à 01h00
27 - FAUN à 01h02
28 - CENTRE EXCELLENCE VOILE SECOURS POPULAIRE 17 à 01h02
29 - NEMO à 01h17
30 - DMG MORI ACADEMY à 01h19 31 - ALOFI SAILING à 01h20
32 - CAP INGELEC à 01h22
33 - FORICHER LES MOULINS BAGATELLE à 01h23
34 - FLEXIRUB à 01h28
35 - REAUTE CHOCOLAT
36 - JPS CONTROLE’Pointage Défi Paprec
Défi Paprec 1 - MIEUX à 00h52
2 - DEAN RACING TEAM à 01h30
3 - NORMANDY OFFSHORE PROGRAM BY PAPREC à 01h32
4 - REVE DE LARGE à 01h36
5 - L'ARCHE EN FRANCE
6 - CHILLI PEPPER
7 - EHECATL
8 - AMERICAN SAILBOAT RACING FOUNDATION