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17.11.2011 Back to news
Hungering for the finish!
 | © Guilain Grenier |
Hardly satisfied with taking a fifth place from Bureau Vallée during the night, which the Burton brothers had worked hard for, the Groupe Bel duo would even like to grapple with Macif, which is within their grasp only 51 miles from the Laughing Cow®. With about two days at sea before Costa Rica, it is a little short for them to catch up with François (Gabart) and Seb (Col), Kito's previous co-skippers in the last two Transat Jacques Vabre races. In these hours of pure speed, no desire should be unsatisfied.
The same goes for Marc (Guillemot) and Yann (Eliès) on board Safran, who, also having overtaken Bureau Vallée, must now nourish the same ambitions as Groupe Bel (37 miles distant at 14:00), which they would surely enjoy devouring as an afternoon snack.
So it is great suspense for the sailors as much as for the general public and it's not over yet. Changeable weather is prevailing as they approach Central America. Both the worst and best are possible for these duos, certainly carried away by the charms of sailing in the Caribbean, but also worn out by three weeks of fragmented nights and ceaseless maneuvers.
Yann Régniau contacted at midday:
"These last days have been tough, fast and stressful in a step sea, but since yesterday, under gennaker, it's great to string together some nice surfing under the stars. As we approach Costa Rica, it will be fairly dodgy. Normally, we should have enough air, but you never know what can happen in this region. Downwind, under spinnaker or gennaker, 'Groupe Bel sails like a bomb. Our speeds are impressive compared to others. I still feel tired though. We don't stop and we're soaked through all the time. We spend a fair amount of time together maneuvering, we also eat together, so we see each other often; he's not a stranger!"
See the Groupe Bel duo's Deezer playlist, only the best!
Ranking on 17 November at 14:00 (UT+1):
1 – Virbac-Paprec 3, 169.60 miles from the finish
2 - Hugo Boss, 128.90 miles to leader
3 - Banque Populaire, 224.40 miles to leader
4 - Macif, 247.70 miles to leader
5 - Groupe Bel, 298.10 miles to leader
6 - Safran, 335.20 miles to leader
7 - Bureau Vallée 348.80 miles to leader
The same goes for Marc (Guillemot) and Yann (Eliès) on board Safran, who, also having overtaken Bureau Vallée, must now nourish the same ambitions as Groupe Bel (37 miles distant at 14:00), which they would surely enjoy devouring as an afternoon snack.
So it is great suspense for the sailors as much as for the general public and it's not over yet. Changeable weather is prevailing as they approach Central America. Both the worst and best are possible for these duos, certainly carried away by the charms of sailing in the Caribbean, but also worn out by three weeks of fragmented nights and ceaseless maneuvers.
Yann Régniau contacted at midday:
"These last days have been tough, fast and stressful in a step sea, but since yesterday, under gennaker, it's great to string together some nice surfing under the stars. As we approach Costa Rica, it will be fairly dodgy. Normally, we should have enough air, but you never know what can happen in this region. Downwind, under spinnaker or gennaker, 'Groupe Bel sails like a bomb. Our speeds are impressive compared to others. I still feel tired though. We don't stop and we're soaked through all the time. We spend a fair amount of time together maneuvering, we also eat together, so we see each other often; he's not a stranger!"
See the Groupe Bel duo's Deezer playlist, only the best!
Ranking on 17 November at 14:00 (UT+1):
1 – Virbac-Paprec 3, 169.60 miles from the finish
2 - Hugo Boss, 128.90 miles to leader
3 - Banque Populaire, 224.40 miles to leader
4 - Macif, 247.70 miles to leader
5 - Groupe Bel, 298.10 miles to leader
6 - Safran, 335.20 miles to leader
7 - Bureau Vallée 348.80 miles to leader
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