No doubts, tradition and sport make a good team. The 22 crews gave everything to figure in good position.
A beautiful tonic departure
In Douarnenez, the tone was given: the departure, envisaged initially on the 17th of August, was postponed of 48 hours due to storm and especially to strong well. The departure was finally given on the 19th of August. The swell of two meters and the west wind of 25 nodes were here for the departure in the bay of Douarnenez. According to some spectators, it was the most beautiful departure they have never seen,and the pictures can testify.
One hour after the departure, Lady Mone announces her return to the port, because of technical damages.
Tactic and tremendous speed in the Bay of Biscay
24 hours after the departure, the wind felt down. While part of the fleet chooses to leave towards the west, the majority of the boats takes the direct road. Faioaohe is at the head of the fleet. The crew of Kallinira noted a waterproofness problem and left in direction of the Trinité at Sea.
Three days after the departure, the anemometers post high speed to the back wind, surfings are programed and the fight will be hard. Nobody releases anything. Pazienza is then at the head of the fleet.
Cruinneag broke its boom and returns in Douarnenez to repair. This last will not be able to get back in race because its mast underwent damage consecutively with its damage.
Cap Finisterre passing
Four days after the departure, the first boats pass the Cap Finisterre, the fleet is spread out over 300 miles. For the head of the fleet, the sea is formed, the winds are strong and bearing, the damages are numerous and the coasts of the Iberian peninsula will no leave respite to the sailor. At the end of the fleet, the sae is calm.
Around Gibraltar, the British boat Pazienza takes again the head of the fleet, while Moonspray, who broke her mainsail, announces a stop in Cascais, Portugal.
Good rhythm along the Moroccan coasts
With 45 nodes sometimes, always with the bearing one! “Imagine a 38 tons boats crossing France at 150 km/h and you have an little idea of the situation”, announces the crew of Stiren at the time of his approach of Agadir, adding “It was physical, exhausting for the crew who, in fact, rather often take turns. It was particularly difficult at the beginning of the night when the moon was not raised yet, the night is very black and it becomes difficult to see the holes ”. In the middle of the night, around Essaouira, the bôme of Pazienza breaks. Very disappointed, the crew showed a great marine direction, very organized itself on board.
A long delay in Agadir
Approaching Agadir, the winds fell. Pazienza, waited on August 27 in the morning crossed the arrival line only at the fallen night. It will be also the same for Stiren and for the whole fleet, Agadir made itself wished, it is necessary to wait nearly 5 p.m. to finally cross the line. Pazienza arrives finally on August 27 at 22:52 ' 27 `', Stiren crosses the line two hours later. Faiaoahe and Corto arrive the next morning. Pazienza will have made the first stage in 7j 09:22 min 27s, with an average of 6,5 nodes. The arrivals spread out over three days, the last competitors, Lamnidée and Kallinira, crossed the line three days later and 5 days for Helena 1913, the oldest boat of the fleet.
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