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A 25-knot SSW’ly wind is forecast for lunchtime on Sunday at the start line. The classic run towards Etretat before they head west would have been quick, but there was the risk of seeing the fleet pushed towards the coast and close to some dangerous areas, which it would not have been possible to get away from, if there was a problem. “In addition to the wind, there is also the spring tide. With the tide going out and the wind in the opposite direction, the area around Etretat would be like a cauldron,” explainedFrancis Le Goff. “I’m not even sure that a buoy would have stayed in place in such conditions,” added the Race Director, who will give details about the exact location of the start line tomorrow at the briefing.
The start will be to the north of the Le Havre shipping channel with the wind on the beam for 3.5 miles and a buoy positioned off Cape de la Hève. The competitors will then head towards the Cherbourg Peninsula passing through a gate located at the red LH4 buoy. “This plan means there is no risk of boats crossing paths,” added Francis Le Goff. “The whole of this course will be around 8 miles long. It allows the people of Le Havre to see the boats and saves time for the competitors, which is no bad thing,” This gain means they should be able to get to the tip of Brittany as the tide changes for example, remembering that the worst weather is expected in the middle of the week. The way out of the Channel will be lively, but they should be able to cope. But then, a very deep low will be arriving from the Atlantic on Tuesday or Wednesday. The North Atlantic in November will once again not be very cooperative, in particular for the slower competitors.
