The trade winds reward the leaders, and in this long night – that between Sunday and Monday – the gaps increase in Class40: Paprec Arkéa was under 700 miles from the finish line, and 120 miles ahead of the second and the third, the Italian Ambrogio Beccaria. Between today and tomorrow the Frenchman, who has been pushing his Class40 towards the finish for many days, will start thinking about approaching Guadeloupe with a series of gybes – he says – which will put him on the best route to face the final stretch around the island, giving a little action to the day, because engaging the trade winds certainly makes things easier compared to the first week upwind, but also makes sailing rather monotonous.
Speaking of Alberto Bona: yesterday’s goal, as announced with bright voice in an audio from aboard, was to catch Antoine Carpentier on Redman. The operation is underway, but on the West, thanks to an area of greater pressure, the “twin” Luke Berry slipped away and, taking advantage of the duel with Carpentier, reached the fifth position, 15 miles ahead of Alberto.
“Until we cut the finish line, it’s not over”, Alberto Bona commented yesterday, and if those who have been leading for four days continue to have more pressure, one has to have faith and not give up, even if one is chasing from behind. In the last 24 hours, the Class40 IBSA has covered 323 miles and, with less than a thousand to go, the finish could actually materialise on the morning of November 24.
In the meantime, today will be the IMOCAs’ big day, with the arrival of the leading ones (and probably the new class record), while at the moment there are still 101 boats in the race.
