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Reshuffle in the air?
Things have spiced up over the last 24 hours for the leaders in the Solidaire du Chocolat. In the Caribbean, in highly variable winds, the gaps between the boats increase and decrease in less time than it takes to say « chocolate ». Anything can happen. Initiatives-Novedia (De Lamotte-Hardy), Telecom Italia (Soldini-D'Ali), Cheminées Poujoulat (Joudren-Stamm) and Cargill-MTTM (Seguin-Tripon) are each in with a chance of being in the top three. It is anybody's guess. Line honours of this first run of the race to Yucatan could go to any one of four boats!
Over the
last 24 hours, there is as much excitement in the air as in there is in the
race scoreboard, as the boats vie a podium finish in the last 1 500 mile (2 780
km) long stretch between Saint Barts and Progreso. The pace is picking up in
the easterly winds strengthening generally in a perturbed system as a tropical
low exist north-west. Things are moving, changing and quickly; the first four
crews move into match-race mode and play tactics to the hilt, exploiting local
effects and tropical phenomena.
From
Jamaica to Cuba
Cargill-MTTM
is firing on all cylinders. After having made a pitstop last night to sort out
a couple of energy charging problems, they sailed at a 17 knot average for
several hours. In the small hours, the duo on Telecom Italia and Cheminées
Poujoulat made the most of a wind corridor on the approach to Jamaica to reduce
their 100 mile shortfall. As luck would
have it, the leaders Initiatives-Novedia were able to step up the rating and
flew past the southern coast of Cuba at an average of 15 knots, putting paid to
any revolutionary thoughts in the minds of her chasers. Latest position
readings reported them holding off the Italians by 143 miles and the Swiss
Breton team by 148 miles. Not bad when you consider the situation 24 hours ago.
Difficult
to imagine how it might all turn out. The tropical low Ida on its way may well
upset the rankings if she brings wind holes into the area. The players in
this game are going to have to be on the ball.
Nouveau départ en mer des
Caraïbes
Behind the
fleet commanders, two other crews are at arms. Since leaving the Atlantic
astern, 40 Degrees (Harding-Merron) and Desafio Cabo de Hornos (Cubillos-Bravo
Silva) have been racing side by side, currently within shouting distance, one
mile apart off Puerto Rico. 1 200 miles from the finish, it’s as if they have
restarted the race in the Caribbean. British and Chilean teams must never the
less keep an eye out for the chirpy Groupe Picoty pair. In great shape since
entering into warmer climes, they are well placed to make an assault on
unsuspecting competitors. Seven boats
are still out in the Atlantic but it should not be long before they make it
through the gate!
One piece
of less spicy news is that Vale Inco Nouvelle Calédonie has lost her second
spinnaker.
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