Arkea Ultim Challenge-Brest leader Charles Caudrelier is still slowed off the Brasilian coast, some 100 miles SE of Recife with just over 600 miles to make to cross the Equator. Since he resumed his attack west of Cape Horn after 36 hours slowed to avoid a big storm, the skipper of Maxi Edmond de Rothschild has actually seen second placed Armel Le Cléac'h catch up more than 1100 miles to now be 1600 miles behind. Caudrelier's problematic ascent of the Atlantic should progressively become more straightforward as he gets into a better breeze tonight.
Of the three skippers back in the Atlantic right on the homewards climb now Le Cléac'h (Maxi Banque Populaire XI) has been quicker today, making over 26kts some 200 miles off the coast of Uruguay, whilst the race leader has been making 11kts for a 24hr day run of 487 miles. In third Thomas Coville (Sodebo Ultim 3) is still 400 miles behind Le Cléac'h.
In fourth Anthony Marchand (Actual Ultim 3) has 400 miles to sail to Point Nemo with Éric Péron (Adagio) some 1000 miles to his west, both ULTIMs are consistently averaging over 25kts which is to be expected now that Marchand has no operational foils on Actual, the former MACIF.
Tom Laperche inspires young school pupils in Brest, start and finish port of the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE-Brest .
Their eager hands shot into the air in response to every question, there were some very studious looks and periods of deep concentration. A classroom of Brest CE2 (8-9 years old) school children were transfixed when SVR-Lazartigue skipper came to visit yesterday.
The youngsters had all previously been learning about ocean racing, about the oceans and have been following the skippers progress.
Laperche has been back in France for more than a fortnight. After his inspiring start to the race, neck-and-neck with leader Charles Caudrelier throughout the descent down the Atlantic, a collision with an object forced him into Cape Town where he and his team had no choice to but to retire from the race.
The SVR-Lazartigue team is working hard to repair the boat looking forwards to future events. Laperche reviewed his race and his adventures with the French media, he took part in the race show 'Ultim Live'
The young students from Brest have followed their young sailing hero every step of the way, his preparation, the start of his round-the-world race, his whole challenge. They have used the free French educational program "La Course Bleue", created by the Kresk 4 Oceans charitable fund in partnership with the French Ministry of National Education and the Fondation de la Mer. Fun and interactive, "La Course Bleue" provides teachers and children with educational resources to learn and follow subjects through the lens of ocean racing and raises awareness of the challenges and solutions that are required to improve ocean health.
"It's a lot of fun to talk to children who are so clued up on our whole approach and who know what we've built" Tom Laperche smiles. "They had a lot of very specific questions about life on board, the conditions, the good and bad times, the wildlife at sea."