The storms again rule the fleet

Vigo (Pontevedra)

Updated:02/02/2021 17: 34h

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Two low pressures dominate the waters of the Bay of Biscay, winds exceeding 35 knots and waves that exceed 6 meters in height. This is the regatta course where Clarisse Cremer sails with the «Banque Populaire X» when it is only 1999 miles from Le Sables d´Olonne after 86 days of Vendée Globe racing.

The “Banque Populaire X” ground team estimates that it will cross the finish line between 08:00 and 17:00 this Wednesday; it may be closer to 8 in the morning than not 5 in the afternoon. Another thing is how the tide is in the entrance channel of the port of Le Sables d´Olonne when Clarisse finishes the race; the tide table for the place is: at 02:33 hours first low tide, at 08:28 hours first high tide, at 15:04 hours second low tide and at 20:56 hours second high tide; the maximum height at high tide is +/- 5 meters. Well, it would be better to arrive at 08:00 tomorrow because afterwards the tide will begin to go down and with the expected tide, you will not have much room for maneuver to enter the channel.

Jérémie Beyou (Charal) Romain Attanasio (Pure – Best Western) are also well served by winds in the Azores area. Where the second storm that moves towards Europe worsens with winds close to 30 knots of intensity and a sea with waves exceeding 5 meters in height. Both patterns cross the Portuguese archipelago between the islands of Terceira and São Miguel, when they are about 1,200 miles from Le Sables d´Olonne and 850 miles from Cape Ortegal in northwestern Galicia.

The miles that both IMOCAs are doing are 330 miles per voyage, so the journey between Azores and Finisterre takes between 2 and 3 days of navigation, which will be very busy observing the weather predictions for the next 24 and 48 hours. Thus tomorrow they will have strong winds from the northwest, and on Thursday presumably from the north because between the two storms a high pressure will form, which is being pursued by the group led by Alan Roura.

A group of four IMOCAs sails in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, on the parallel of the Canary Islands, heading northwest led by Alan Roura with his ship «La Fabrique» and 60 miles further east of his position they accompany him «La Mie Câline – Artisans Artipôle», «DMG MORI Global One» and «Time For Oceans» in positions 15, 16 and 17. And at 200 and 550 miles they are followed by the «Medallia» and «One Planet One Ocean »by Dídac Costa.

The six bosses want the high pressure rising winds to carry them to the storms that will form on the coasts of Canada and then head towards the Bay of Biscay.

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