Arkea Ultim Challenge: Le Cléac'h and Marchand heading into the Indian Ocean

After Charles Caudrelier passed on the 19th at 1332hrs UTC and Thomas Coville on 21st at 0218hrs UTC, next, today it will be the Armel Le Cléac'h and Anthony Marchand passing Cape of Good Hope. Tom Laperche's SVR Lazartigue has successfully docked in Cape Town and the technical team are continuing their evaluations. Éric Péron is nearly 1,800 miles further west in sixth place.

This Tuesday morning there is no real let up in the pace for the leader Charles Caudrelier (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild) who is still making nearly nearly 30 knots. After passing the Kerguelen Islands yesterday he sailed SE  close to the ZEA (ice exclusion zone).

"Charles is on a solo round-the-world pace now, really," explains Fred Le Peutrec from Race Direction He has no need to attack any faster than this. He is ahead of the curve, he can focus on looking after himself and the boat. And he has good conditions all the way to Tasmania. There, he has a sequence of gybes as he will be downwind but he is well hooked into this favorable weather system."

More than 1,400 miles to his west is Thomas Coville (Sodebo Ultim 3) who is slanted further north, due to a low pressure center in front of him to his east. "This low pressure center has deepened, centred over Madagascar and is descending towards the South," specifies the assistant race director. In any case, the skipper of Sodebo says, " I am in my bubble, in my rhythm, into a reality of adventure, of endurance".  

The starboard foil problem (broken foil lowering system) has no impact for the moment since it is on the windward side. And for the moment, the conditions do not seem very favorable for carrying out the repair.

Le Cléac'h has a small advantage over Marchand

In third and fourth Armel Le Cléac'h (Maxi Banque populaire XI) and Anthony Marchand (Actual Ultim 3) are separated by less than 80 miles. "Armel has moved back to the South to get around the anticyclone," explains Le Peutrec, "That allowed him to take a slightly more direct route than Anthony. And the skipper of Actual will gybe in turn to do the same."

The two skippers are making around 30kts preparing to cross the Cape of Good Hope and the Cape Agulhas which marks the entry into the Indian Ocean. "They still have good conditions to attack the Indian but little by little, the seas will build." Explains Fred from Race Direction

Éric Péron is at full speed on the direct route. "He will be able to go straight and accelerate as his easterly wind strengthens," explains Fred. "And all the time he is sailing less distance than the two in front of him."

And in Cape Town the SVR-Lazartigue team is busy, inspecting the Ultim to assess the damage and have a more precise idea of the repairs to be carried out.