Third day of Fastnet and many things to tell: let’s start from the new distance record, which now belongs to the trimaran SVR Lazartigue, captained by Frenchman François Gabart, also with Elodie Jane Mettraux on board, who therefore officially now becomes the first woman to cross the finish line. Gabart improved Gitana’s previous record by 36 minutes, finishing the race in 1 day, 8 hours, 38 minutes and 27 seconds.
But let’s get back to us: the Class40 IBSA rounded the legendary Fastnet today, Monday, July 24, at 10:13:53, in sixth position in her class, after a long upwind battle and the sea storm of the first 24 hours, which caused 142 withdrawals so far.
Late yesterday morning, the (relative) calm arrived, which allowed the team to rest, eat, get back on track.
Yesterday afternoon the recovery of important positions, a magnificent sunrise and – at the 1 pm check – the recovery up to the second place within the class, with 330 miles still to sail to reach Cherbourg, where the entire organisation has meanwhile migrated to set up the welcome. Here everyone is getting ready to celebrate everyone, because the weather conditions of the first day made all skippers heroes, regardless of their position in the rankings.
