Offshore Racing

Leading Yoann Richhomme FRA (Paprec-Arkéa) still had 890 miles to go to the finish in New York this morning, with an expected arrival on Monday evening. He was able to extend his lead over Charlie Dalin FRA (Macif) to 48 miles. In the fading, inconsistent winds on the approach to New York, the decision is far from being made! With a gap of 66 miles, Boris Herrmann GER (Malizia) is now in 3rd place, followed by Samantha Davis GBR (Initiatives Coeur) just 2 miles behind. Justine Mettraux SUI (Teamwork/Team SNEF) was able to improve to 8th place, her gap is 146 miles. Alan Roura SUI is now 13th, Oliver Heer SUI follows in 24th place. Ambrogio Beccaria ITA has taken the lead in Class 40, Jan Lipinski POL is 7 miles behind. 8 of the 13 Class 40 starters are still in the race. The race tracker and the reports.

The fleet of 30 Figaro 3 remaining in the race is on the home straight towards Sables d'Olonne this morning. The leader Gildas Morvan FRA was still 35 miles away this morning. 3 miles behind is Basile Bourgnon FRA. Anaelle Pattusch SUI has dropped back to 28th place, 39 miles behind. The race tracker and the reports.

In the center of the low-pressure area, the leading group is making good progress with aft winds. Yoann Richhomme FRA (Arkea-Paprec) has taken the lead, and Charlie Dalin FRA (Macif) follows 17 miles behind in second place. 50 miles behind the leading duo follows a chasing trio separated by only 12 miles with Paul Meilhat FRA (Biotherm), Samantha Davies GBR (Initiatives Coeur), and Boris Herrmann GER (Malizia). Justine Mettraux SUI (Teamwork/Team Snef) is now in 10th place, 118 miles behind, Alan Roura SUI (Hublot) is 14th, 160 miles behind, Oliver Heer SUI follows in 25th place. Jan Lipinski POL continues to hold the lead in Class 40. The race tracker and the reports.

The fleet was only briefly slowed down in the intermediate zone yesterday and has already reached the next low-pressure vortex. With fresh aft winds, the IMOCA are now travelling at more than 20 knots again. Charlie Dalin FRA (Macif) continues to lead with a 21-mile advantage over Yoann Richhomme FRA (Arkea-Paprec). Samantha Davis GBR (Initiatives Coeur) has moved up to third place, 55 miles behind. Justine Mettraux SUI (Teamwork/Groupe SNEF) is 89 miles behind in 9th place, Alan Roura SUI (Hublot) is now 16th, Oliver Heer SUI follows in 26th place. The race tracker and the reports.

In fresh northerly winds, the fleet made good progress yesterday, with reaching conditions enabling 24-hour distances of 450 miles. Charlie Dalin FRA (Macif) has regained the lead, followed within sight by Yoann Richomme FRA (Paprec-Arkea), 2.6 miles behind. Yannick Bestaven FRA (Maître Coq) is 22 miles behind in 3rd place. The Swiss advanced yesterday: Justine Mettraux SUI (Teamwork/Groupe SNEF) is now 8th, 68 miles behind, 20 miles ahead of her Samantha Davies GBR (Initiatives Coeur) as the best woman. Alan Roura SUI (Hublot) improved to 13th place and Oliver Heer SUI is now 24th. The rough conditions took their toll, 6 of the 33 participants have already abandoned the race with damage. Today the top will reach a flat transition zone, the fleet should move closer together. The Class 40 is also sailing close together: Leader Ian Lipinski POL is 5 miles ahead of Fabien Delahaye FRA. The race tracker and the reports.

After the start in moderate winds on Sunday, the fleet was hit yesterday by a first front from the west with rough waves and up to 35 knots of wind. Already 5 participants had to abandon the race with damage, including co-favourite Jérémy Béyou FRA, who broke the forestay of his Charal. Paul Meilhat FRA (Biotherm) is now in the lead, 3.5 miles ahead of Nicolas Lunven FRA (Holcim-PRB). Another mile behind is Charlie Dalin FRA (Macif) in 3rd. 30 miles behind, Justine Mettraux SUI (TeamWork/Groupe SNEF) has dropped back to 13th place, with Alan Roura SUI (Hublot) just 9 miles behind in 15th place. The race tracker and the reports.

In moderate winds, the three classes started their Atlantic crossing to New York in Lorient yesterday lunchtime. With fresh southerly winds of around 25 knots, the fleet is making good progress this morning. In the lead is favorite Charlie Dalin FRA ('Macif'), who already dominated the class last year. Jérémy Béyou FRA ('Charal') follows 8 miles behind in 2nd place. Justine Mettraux SUI ('TeamWork/Group SNEF') is also progressing fast, having moved up to 5th place 20 miles behind after a slow start. Alan Roura SUI ('Hublot') is 18th (39 miles behind), Oliver Heer SUI follows in 28th place of the 33 participants. In Class 40, Nicolas d'Estais FRA leads by one mile from Ian Lipinski POL. The race tracker and the reports.

'The Transat' was the first ever transatlantic race in 1960, the beginning of a boom in ocean sailing, which is today one of the most highly regarded sports. Today at 13.30 CET, the Transat marks the start of an intense season that will culminate in November with the Vendée Globe. The crossing of the North Atlantic from east to west is likely to take place frequently on upwind courses in the westerly wind belt, a tough test for the Open 60, which are optimized for downwind courses with a view to the Vendée Globe. Practically all the contenders are at the start of this further qualification regatta for the Vendée, including the three Swiss. It will be interesting to see how Justine Mettraux SUI ('TeamWork/Team SNEF') performs after having impressed last autumn at the Transat Jacques Vabre with an attacking strategy having lead for a long time. She has optimized her Open 60 in the shipyard recently, including new larger foils that are also effective in lighter winds. After the winter break, Alan Roura SUI ('Hublot') and Oliver Heer SUI will also be switching back to race mode. The next race back to Europe will follow shortly after the Transat. We will broadcast the start live from 13h, probably in light winds. ----- All reports and the race tracker.

With a lead of just 58 minutes, Xavier Macaire/Carlos Manera ESP/Pierre Le Boucher FRA crossed the finish line yesterday after 14 days and 20 hours as winners of the Transat Niji. After days of fighting, Alberto Riva ITA/Jean Marre FRA/Benjamin Schwartz FRA had to admit defeat. Meanwhile, 7 of the 10 teams remaining in the race have reached the finish. The race tracker and the reports.

This morning, Xavier Macaire/Carlos Manera ESP/Pierre Le Boucher FRA will reach the finish line as winners of the Transat Niji. At the time of going to press at 7 am, they were still 30 miles behind and were making good progress in the trade winds. Following 10 miles behind are Alberto Riva ITA/Jean Marre FRA/Benjamin Schwartz FRA. ----- The race tracker and the reports.

Contrary to the (usually somewhat inaccurate) forecasts of the race tracker, the best trade wind conditions have materialised for the northern group, the sprint towards the finish - with 360 miles still to go - has begun. Xavier Macaire/Carlos Manera ESP/Pierre Le Boucher FRA are leading with a 25-mile lead over Alberto Riva ITA/Jean Marre FRA/Benjamin Schwartz FRA. The race tracker and the reports.

The leading duo were still able to avoid turning into the flat transition zone to the south and thus keep their speed high. Xavier Macaire/Carlos Manera ESP/Pierre Le Boucher FRA were able to extend their lead to 9.5 miles. The two breakaways in the south were able to make up 100 miles. ----- The race tracker and the reports.

The fleet sailing in the north with north-westerly winds reached fresh winds again yesterday, with 800 miles to finish. These are likely to be much tougher to cross, as there is now the threat of a big lull until the finish. The two runaways in the south sail at good speeds in the trade winds, carrying them to the finish. Their gap yesterday remained stable at 1,000 miles. However, the race to catch up should begin today. ----- The race tracker and the reports.