Brits struggle in second offshore...

at 0700 this morning the British student entry were lying in 30th place with 70 miles remaining...

At 1712 last night the 38 Mumm 30's in the Tour Voile started towards Cherbourg in the second offshore race of the event. The race, a 105 mile trek towards along the Normandy coast, is the first overnight race this year.

The fleet sailed for 9 hours in barely 3 knots of wind until a northerly 10 knots kicked in. The fleet made slow progress for the first two hours of the race, all bunched together as they hugged the coastline. It was the student boat Cap Université-Versailles-Saint Quentin en Yvelines, skippered by Figaro sailor Eric Drouglazet, which got the best start.

At 1900 the fleet split, one bunch deciding to stay inshore out of the current, and the other - lead by Simon Shaw's British Universities Team - heading offshore for more breeze. By 2100 the fleet were heading in to 2.5 knots of current, forcing one boat - Region Ile de France - to anchor and wait for more breeze to kick in.

Mike Broughton, navigator for the British Universities Team, commented: "There will be two tricky areas of low pressure. It should affect the race... giving light wind for the start and stronger wind to the North of the rhumb line. We'll have to try and use the leading edge of the thunder storms on the clouds that are raining".

Cameron Appleton, Team New Zealand, was wary of the strong tides said: "We want to get in a good start position, and then sail along the coast as quickly as possible bofore the tide changes", he added, "it should be an exciting race".

It was famour offshore sailor Isabelle Autissier who pointed out that the most important section of the race will be in the final miles as the fleet approaches Cherbourg:

"And of course, it will be 'rock and roll' at the finish in Cherbourg as we'll probably have 4 knots of current. I think the race will all start again there and anything might happen."

If the Northerly breeze fails as the boats converge on Cherbourg it is very likely we will see more teams anchoring to maintain their positions. It will be interesting to see whether the British Universities Team will gain from their more offshore approach to Cherbourg, or whether the more inshore approach taken by race leader Ville De Geneve - Carrefour Prevention will be the winning route.