Imocas set torrid pace in the Atlantic

The Swiss-flagged Holcim-PRB team remains at the head of the IMOCA fleet on Wednesday as all five boats are setting a blistering pace directly towards Cabo Verde. The leading teams are putting up close to 500-mile days with Holcim-PRB now just 992 miles from the finishing line at Cabo Verde.

Now free of the constraints of the Mediterranean, the teams are set up for some fast sailing across the wind. IMOCAs are designed to excel in these conditions and the miles to the finish line are melting away.

Kevin Escoffier’s Holcim-PRB are holding off 11th Hour Racing Team for the lead, while Boris Herrmann’s Team Malizia is positioned furthest east and closest to the direct route rhumb line.

“I think we’ve seen 33.7 knots of boat speed this morning,” said Will Harris on board Team Malizia. “We’re going fast… We’re enjoying some straight line sailing after all the tacking getting to Gibraltar. Looking forward to getting to Cabo Verde in a few days.”

In fact, the ETA for the IMOCA fleet is overnight (GMT) on Friday, with France’s Biotherm and GUYOT envirionnement Team Europe some 100 miles behind the leaders.