Route du Rhum start

Updated report from St Malo

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After a miserable grey start to the day with a light drizzle so Mother Nature has similed on the 74 competitors leaving at 1302 local time in the Route du Rhum. Conditions have turned out nice, the skies have cleared, the rain stopped and even the sun, that rare commodity mid-autumn in northern France has deigned to put in an appearance.

With 15 minutes to go until the start the wind is light, 5-8 knots from just west of due north. The boats are due to take the start line simultaneously at 1302 local time. However the line is divided by a large French navy ship, the multihulls starting to the north, the monohulls to the south on the land side.

The pomp and circumstance surrounding this regatta is immense. Over the last two weeks the boats have been kept within the large inner basins by St Malo's old town. To get out of the basins they have to pass through a giant lock. The series of boats locking out has turned into a cermony and last night the celebrations as the boats and their skippers passed through was enormous.

Five minutes to the gun, the boats now rolled out headsails. The visibility is much improved since early this morning. It is a day for full mains and genoas. Despite the wind being on the beam the skippers obviously think the wind is going forward. In fact the course away from St Malo is slight north of due west.

All the boats are on starboard. Among the tris Groupama is down by the pin, the top boats spread out over the line. It looks like Brossard may be over early up by the boat. FIrst over are Geant, Groupama and Foncia. Groupama tacks on to port early passing ahead of Sopra.

Among the Open 60s le Cam is going for the pin. Sill is half way down the line. Delta Dore is closer to the pin. More than a dozen helicopters are overhead. Huge spectator fleet with several ferries (large cross-channel ferries) being used to carry spectors. Of the Open 60s le Cam's strawberry-coloured VM MAteriaux is first over.

Like Groupama, le Cam has gone on to port and is now in among the multihulls. Thank God there is no wind - this could be carnage! PRB has her big Solent jib the clew virtually touching the end of the deck spreader where it is sheeted. Temenos just to weather of Sill. The boats are only making about 3-5 knots boat speed.

Geant is heading in towards the left side of the course and seems to be in the lead. Foncia is also still on starboard just above Geant with Sopra just above her.

The boats are equally split between tacks, the wind is shifting with both groups appears head from time to time. Cammas has taken a hit having had to duck many transoms to get his ofshore option. Among the Open 60s Brian Thompson appears to be around fifth.

The boats are currently heading up the coast to the traditional turning mark under the cliffs at Cape Frehat, 18 miles form the start.

13:45 The wind from being just west of north shortly before the start has since shifted west and back to the north west. According to on the water expert and former competitor Miranda Merron, the wind is generally expected to go right and the boats which have headed right (ie offshore) have gained. There is also more tide offshore (it is with them (westbound, ebbing) until 1900 local time this evening. Steve Ravussin on Orange appears to be ahead, Geant has tacked back from the left hand side. Among the Open 60s, Roxy and Saffran are furthest left. Brit Air is doing well out to the right.

13:55 Sill and VM Matereaux very close together out to the right. PRB and Artemis are on starboard tack heading back in to the centre of the course. We understand Groupama is leading.

14:00. Jean-Pierre Dick and Virbac are leading the Open 60s, follwed by Delta Dore, although there is big separation across the course still. Cammas is now considerably ahead in the 60ft trimarans having taken a long offshore route and is now on the layline to the turning mark at Cape Frehel. Foncia, Gitana 11 and Banque Populaire follow. There is chaos out on the race course with the spectator fleets on both sides of the course at the start converging. Lots of shouting. There is about 6-7 knots from the northwest. The tris are slipping along nicely at around 10 knots. There are literally thousands of boats out on the water.

14:15 The green form of Groupama II is leading still towards Cape Frehel followed by a giant armada of spectator craft. All the multihulls are now heading in on starboard tack.

14:27. The leading monos are now level with St Malo. Brian Thompson on Artemis is the furthest inshore and Loick Peyron thinks might be leading. Virbac is further offshore, with VM Materieaux and Sill further offshore still. Brit Air is just aft of Virbac. Groupama leads Geant. Dominique Vittet appears to be leading the Class 40s.

14:56:35 Groupama II rounds Cape Frehel mark in first positions. She is ahead by a country mile.

Frehel mark roundings:

1. Groupama - 14:56:35
2. Geant - 15:01:11
3. Gitana 11 - 15:02:08
4. Sodebo - 15:02:23
5. Banque Populaire 15:-2:30
6: Sopra 15:04:30
7. Brossard 15:04:58
8. Foncia 15:07:21
9. Gitana 12 09:22

15:17. Now here's a thing. The first Open 60 to the mark - PRB, by a country mile.

Open 60s

1.PRB 15:14:51
2. Virbac - 15:17:04
3. Sill - 15:19:04
4. Delta Dore
5. Artemis (v close behind DD)

Followed by Brit Air, VM Materieaux, Temenos, then Roxy

VM Materiaux expected next. Then a big gap.

RIght - we're off....