Kito just before the start

The Paul Vatine Basin is empty. The 14 monohulls IMOCA 60 ft and the 6 multihulls 50 ft were at sea at midday. The wind is currently absent on Le Havre but soon after the start - started at 14:30 for the 'mono' - the weather conditions should improve in the Channel before weakening again at the tip of Brittany. The following days' forecasts are not very pleasing neither with a series of low pressure areas between Tuesday and Friday.

Kito, few minutes before casting off :

Responsibility : « Many of Groupe Bel salaries came once again to support us with François. My family is here as well, along with my friends and my team who is following me and preparing the boat everyday. I have responsibilities towards all these people and I am here to assume them. »

The departure: « The wind is low outside, and there is a lot of people on a formed sea. We will first take care of not taking any risks, in particular of a collision with another boat which is the main risk on this kind of departure. From a sporting point of view, the race is not disputed here, however it is necessary to pay attention to the material. »

The conditions: « We know it won’t be comfortable. Some heavy low pressure areas are awaiting us offshore and we will have to take the right decisions quickly in order to avoid any trouble.»

All the news