Ecover over early

Calais Round Britain underway in difficult conditions

Jean Pierre Dick on Virbac Paprec lead the Open 60' IMOCA fleet across the start line at 1230 GMT today for this second edition of the 1850 mile Calais Round Britain Race, though it was Emma Richards ( Pindar Alphagraphics) that powered off, hungry for the top spot. 

Mike Golding ( Ecover) overshot the start and headed into the race a little behind the fleet after rounding the committee boat and crossing the line a second time. The seven monohulls then headed westwards on starboard tack under one reef and trinquette in a 15/20 knot SW'ly wind, under an overcast sky, pierced with blue.  The highly international fleet kept trading places on their way down the 15 mile coastal course taking them past the shifty winds and currents off Blanc-Nez and Gris-Nez.  The course culminated in the mark off Boulogne sur Mer, Roland Jourdain ( Sill et Veolia) the first to round at 1510 GMT, hounded by the two Anglo-Saxon boats, Ecover and Pindar Alphagraphics.  Currently on port tack in a southerly wind, the fleet will now have to decide whether to opt for the English or French coast as they make for the Scilly Isles off SW England. 

Latest positions at Boulogne mark:
Sill et Veolia   1510 GMT
Ecover  1513 GMT
Pindar  1515 GMT
Bonduelle 1516 GMT
Cheminees Poujoulat 1519 GMT
Virbac Paprec1530 GMT
Caen La Mer 1.5 miles from the mark at 1535 GMT