It’s a cry from the heart from Daniel Ecalard (Sos Parbrise+) which is echoed by Jean-Sébastien Biard (JSB Déménagements) and Arnaud Pennarun (Viabilis - Pen Duick III pour les enfants de Robert Debré). Ecalard is one of the backmarkers in the fleet who has just passed the longitude of Cape Verde
Their routes shows they still have 2000 miles to go. They are crossing the high pressure zone which means weak and erratic winds. The only way to get into better wind is to keep working south, which of course increases the length of their route. And that is gonna hurt, especially as Guadeloupe has just welcomed the first competitors in the Rhum divisions. Four multis have finished most recently including Halvard Mabire (GDD) and the Rhum Mono winner Jean-Pierre Dick (Notre Méditerranée - Ville de Nice) who has won his first big solo transatlantic race.
Charlie Capelle - Acapella
It's hard to live with this heat, which is a bit odd as it is not super sunny and quite a leaden sky. Otherwise I think I was hacked by the Russians I ran out of gas. I knew I had a small spare bottle but I couldn't remember where I had stored it. It took me a while but I found it, I will be able to make myself small coffees but not a hot dish every day. It doesn't bother me given the temperature on board. We have finally crossed the 1,000 nautical miles to go to Pointe-à-Pitre, so "no problemo", another 5 days at sea and I'll be at the table in front of a good meal. It is often the case, as now, that I feel more alone when the finishes in our class starts. And I haven't seen another boat, a competitor, a commercial boat or a fishing boat for days and nothing on the AIS, no echo!
Daniel Ecalard - SOS Windshield +
"Do not forget us! I'm thinking of Arnaud (Pennarun) and me who are still going to be in the calm for two more days. The whole thing starts to feel long especially as you see the class-mates finishing into Guadeloupe. And then here we are in middle of nowhere. No neighbors for 100 miles around. Well, I wish you a good evening with this photo if it passes the spinnaker of SOS Pare-Brise + which is pulling the boat at 4 knots towards the southwest.”
Catherine Chabaud - ESI Business School training for Ocena as Common
Obviously I wanted to congratulate Jean-Pierre! He had a superb race, too bad we didn't have more of a fight. He has a great boat with great speed and he sailed well. I think it must not have been easy for him, it must have been quite intense rescuing Brieuc Maisonneuve. It must not have been easy for him to get back in the race, but he must also have been so happy to have saved him.
I thought about him a lot, he has sailed an almost flawless race and I hope that over the last few miles he enjoyed ripping along with his beautiful boat. I am very happy for him! Obviously he was the favourite, he is an accomplished winner!
I can't wait to find him again... I hope as soon as possible