Blown out

Tour Voile fleet gale bound in Dieppe

The wind blowing over the white cliffs was getting stronger and stronger, so strong in fact, that the Race Committee decided to cancel the two races originally planned for today. This will give the crews the opportunity to rest, after a very late finish last night. The next offshore race of this Tour de France à la Voile will start tomorrow at 9.00, when the thirty Mumm 30s will be heading to Honfleur.

Light wind yesterday, strong wind today - but according to Race Committee President, René Boulaire, these conditions are not surprising: “This is quite typical at this time of the year. The weather is deteriorating with some thunderstorms and the wind can be strong for another day or two. The Near Gale warning issued by Météo France shows winds around 35 knots between 14.00 GMT and 20.00 GMT. The sea state is also becoming rough, so the conditions are not very good for an inshore race”.

On the pontoons, the crews look happy with this decision. They will be able to rest after their long and tiring leg yesterday. On board Eminence, British sailor Sam Davies commented: “it’s good because we arrived at 4.00 in the morning so it’s a great opportunity to rest and prepare tomorrow’s race to Honfleur. It’s so tiring. I have only done two days and I am already knackered! (laughs) But I am really happy to be here. The spirit in the team is great and I am learning a lot”. The Skandia-sponsored Figaro sailor, who is doing the navigation and the tactic on board the girl’s boat, will leave the team in St Malo to concentrate on her next race, the Solitaire du Figaro in August.

On board Toulon Provence Méditerranée Coychyères, who won the race yesterday, Sébastien Audigane is also in charge of the navigation for the offshore legs. The French sailor who was part of Bruno Peyron’s team onboard the maxi-catamaran Orange II when they broke the Jules Verne Record in 50 days earlier this year, has a good experience of offshore racing. Having competed in six Solitaire du Figaros, Audigane knows the French coast very well and this is a real advantage for the team. “Seb was already sailing with us for the world championship and everything went very well," said skipper Fabien Henry. "On this offshore leg to Dieppe, he made some good decisions and some good choices with the currents. It’s great to have him with us !” Sébastien Audigane will be sailing on board Toulon Provence Méditerranée Coychyères for all the Atlantic legs.

According to the weather forecast, the fleet will be able to start tomorrow. The wind should shift to south-south-west and blow between force 3 and 5. The Mumm 30s will leave the docks of Dieppe at 8.00 local time and head to Honfleur for a 65 mile leg (coefficient 1.5x).