Route du Rhum race extended as skippers get smashed
Wild weather starts breaking boats and sailors, and it’s only day two of the tough ocean raceOrganisers of the Route du Rhum ocean race have added five extra days to allow for skippers who survive the wild conditions sweeping the fleet to attempt to finish the event.
“Due to the adverse weather conditions the fleet are experiencing in the Bay of Biscay at the moment, and the number of skippers who have sought shelter or made technical pitstops, Race Direction have published an Amendment (No.8 of the Sailing Instructions),” organisers said in a statement issued today.
“The change means that the finish line in Guadeloupe will remain open for an additional five days until December 7 at 1400 (previously December 2 at 1400).”
The 123 boat-strong fleet has been hit by capsizes, dismastings and hull damage since setting off two days ago on the traditionally gruelling 6400km solo deep-ocean sprint from France to Guadeloupe in the face of heavy weather.
Trimaran capsizes
The biggest retirement so far has been the trimaran Maxi SoloBanque Populaire IX, with former vendee Globe winner, Frenchman Armel Le Cléac’h at the helm. Le Cléac’h was running in third place when the trimaran’s portside outrigger snapped off in 30-35 knots of wind and five-metre seas. He was reported safe in the centre hull of the upturned boat and awaiting rescue.
Race favourite Alex Thomson on the IMOCA Hugo Boss made an early decision to spear north from the main fleet to avoid the worst of the weather. As of late yesterday, he held a slim 30nm lead over second-placed Vincent Riou on PRB, 300nm to the south. Fellow IMOCA-class sailor Sam Smith has diverted to port after the hull bottom on her boat, Initiatives Coeur, started delaminating after constant slamming on big waves.
Thompson’s main threat and the newest foiling boat to join the IMOCA fleet, Charal, was struck with steering problems, skipper Jérémie Beyou has reported.
Wild sea state
Class40 skipper Mikael Ryking reported winds topping out at 40 knots before calming slightly to between 20-25 knots, but the “seastate has been wild and [his boat] Talanta is shot out of a wave time after time, free falling down landing with a terrible crash.
“It really hurts me to hear this hard banging and how my lovely Talanta is suffering,” he said.
Thompson reported he was about to hit the weather later today. “I had to crawl around the boat last night,” he said in a brief update sent to race organisers. “But it’s a little bit better now, in 18-20 knots of wind but it’s due to build to 30+, with big squalls with gusts of potentially 40-45 , perhaps even 50.
“So I’ve got my work cut out for the next few hours, well, the next day really. And then hopefully things should then improve.”
Follow the race on the official Route du Rhum Destination Guadeloupe website.
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