Bermudes 1000 Race: Sébastien Simon in the lead at the Azores waypoint. Romain Attanasio’s analysis
A skilled observer of this first event in the IMOCA Globe Series in which he was unable to take part due to the timing, Romain Attanasio gives us his analysis of the first five days of racing...
At 1245hrs UTC on Tuesday 14th May, Sébastien Simon was the first to round the Azores waypoint, the second major course mark in the Bermudes 1000 Race. The skipper of ARKEA PAPREC is now on the final leg of the course on his way to Brest. There is still everything to play for with a very tightly packed group just behind him, comprising Yannick Bestaven, Sam Davies, Boris Herrmann, Maxime Sorel and Giancarlo Pedote.
A skilled observer of this first event in the IMOCA Globe Series in which he was unable to take part due to the timing, Romain Attanasio gives us his analysis of the first five days of racing.
Conditions have been extremely varied since the start. All of the sailors must be tired. The climb up to the Fastnet in light winds was exhausting. The racers rounded the rock as if sailing a Figaro, all bunched up. It looked like August with some incredible weather and light airs from the north. Sébastien Simon came out on top of this phase at the Fastnet. In just a few hours, he added thirty miles to his lead. After those light conditions, on the way down to the Azores, conditions were as wet as they get for the IMOCAs, reaching in 30-35 knots of wind. When it is like that, the boat is often under the water and you hide out inside.
In general, this Bermudes 1000 Race is one where those behind have been able to narrow the gap and now they are close to each other again, in spite of the the big differences between the boats in the fleet. Between Alexia Barrier’s IMOCA and Sébastien Simon’s, the difference in speed in the same conditions can be doubled. However, in spite of that, no one has been really left alone. All of the skippers have to work hard to maintain their positioning. That’s a good thing, as it is always more motivating when you are close rather than 500 miles behind the others.
View the rankings here: https://www.bermudes1000race.com/classement-de-la-course
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