The latest race news from the race
Race climax gets closer
The race village in Fort de France has been officially opened, a sure sign the Transat Jacques Vabre is coming to a climax. The race for line honours is on as the leading Ultimes and Ocean Fifty multihulls converge. The three-boat race between leading IMOCAs is hotting up as the Class 40s turn west towards Martinique.
Ocean Fifty - heading for line honours
There's drama in the battle for second and third with Koesio reporting major power problems that are preventing them from receiving regular weather updates. It could prove the opportunity third placed Leyton (with Sam Goodchild (GBR) and Aymeric Chappelier on board) needs to finally overcome their rivals who they have duelled with for many hundreds of miles. The Ocean Fifty leaders are now closer to Martinique than the Ultimes who have slotted in behind them on the same route.
Ultime - no time to rest
The first three Ultimes have started their ascent towards the finish. Like the Ocean Fifty, they too are now gybing along the coast of northern Brazil - no easy feat in these huge trimarans. 400 miles behind the leaders Maxi Edmond de Rothschild is Banque Populaire XI. Co-skipper Kevin Escoffier is counting the gybes and thinking of the finish line, "Only four more gybes and we'll start a long tack on a direct course to Martinique."
IMOCA - the battle fot he gybes
The first Imoca boats have started to gybe along the northern coast of Brazil. With 4 gybes for LinkedOut still in the lead, 5 for Apivia and 3 for Charal, the trio are trying to manage the wind shifts as best they can. Some 300 miles behind, Arkéa Paprec and Initiatives-Coeur are heading towards the Fernando de Noronha course mark and are maintaining a stable gap with the leaders. Due to the changing weather conditions further back in the Atlantic the chasing boats, like 11th Hour Racing Team - Malamā (USA) have lost a lot of ground on the leaders.
Class40 - waiting for hindsight
As expected, the Class 40s positioned further south in the fleet are getting more wind. Edenred has chosen to sail the furthest south and this strategy could eventually pay off. With an average speed of 10 knots, Emmanuel Le Roch and Pierre Quiroga could well cross in front and take the lead. Amongst the excellent performances of the last few hours, the women's crew of La Boulangère Bio could also make up a few places.