After five days of racing in the Route du Rhum, the Imoca class is tighter than ever. Morgan Lagravière gives us his expert eye on the Route du Rhum en Imoca. For the skipper, Paul Meilhat could create the surprise to arrive first at Pointe-à-Pitre. Morgan Lagravière will be passionate for the rest of the race, "the strategy on the continuation of the course will be interesting to follow". And we know his favorite: "Paul Meilhat is well placed to [...] win the Route du Rhum."
"As one would expect in this Route du Rhum, Alex Thomson, Paul Meilhat, Vincent Riou and Yann Eliès have managed to sneak south of the ridge that will block the road of their pursuers in Imoca. The leaders will begin to enter the deep trade winds of Northeast and therefore escape.
++ DIRECT Route du Rhum: classifications, positions and cartography in real time For these sailors, the more southern, comfort on board has clearly improved. It's a beautiful moment of deliverance. But even in the trade wind, you have to keep a very high level of vigilance to avoid getting off the road. The regatta can stop in a snap of fingers, just a start to the luff or slaughter ... From a sports point of view, there are still important things to do, and the four leaders will put themselves pressure each other. They will push the boats and push their physical limits. But be careful because the start of the race has left traces on boats and snowmen.
"Paul Meilhat, far from being an outsider! "
I'm absolutely not surprised by Paul Meilhat's performances. Since the beginning of the Route du Rhum, competitors have often progressed in conditions rather to the advantage of an IMOCA with straight drifts. There has been a lot of near and recently, the first are the VMG (compromise cap / speed) bearing. It is still a favorable configuration for a drifting boat. It's almost a surprise that foiling IMOCA, especially that of Alex, not at all typical for the near, may have come out as well.
Paul knows the road well for having already won the Transat AG2R in Figaro (on a course between Concarneau and Saint-Barth). He is also one of the IMOCA skippers who has traveled the most miles in recent years. It is perfectly legitimate that he finds himself in this situation. It is well placed to break into the trade winds and win the Route du Rhum. Paul is far from being an outsider! The situation is very open and all hopes are also allowed for Alex Thomson, Vincent Riou and Yann Eliès.
++ Route du Rhum. Jean Le Cam: "Alex Thomson has always been extreme"
"A story of compromise"
The strategy on the continuation of the course will be interesting to follow. The road to go to Pointe-à-Pitre is full wind, so there will be gybes to predict. Overall, the further south, the further away from the influence of the anticyclone, the more the trade wind is installed. Different trajectories are possible. To summarize, one can choose to dive further south, thus making more route but touching a stronger trade wind; either we can try to "cut the cheese" by the North, but with less pressure. It must begin to roll in the brains of the first because the choice will have to be done quickly enough. Everything is going to be a compromise story. It is possible that Paul's trajectories diverge from those of his three competitors. Foil does not always add value. In certain conditions it is a brake more than anything else. To be effective and accelerate strongly, the foilers must put more angle in their trajectories. The question is whether the speed gain can compensate for the lengthening of the road ... This will depend a lot on the intensity of the trade wind. If the wind rises a lot, the foiled IMOCA will be able to "fly" and will have all their chances. It's very interesting because each boat is different, with its range of performances. Each sailor navigates with his weapons, with the technical specificities of his machine.
"To be still in the race, a victory in itself"
Behind, Boris Herrmann has tried a sliced option but I can not see how he will be able to get by because the backbone that blocks the road is more impressive in the West, I do not really see the alternative that is offered to him . That said, he is still racing, which is already a victory in itself. Many very good sailors had to stop and those who resisted such violent conditions inspire respect, for the last as for the first. A good little group formed with Stéphane The Directed, Alan Roura, Damien Seguin and Arnaud Boissières. The first will crash into the ridge and slow down, which should allow Arnaud to return. They will probably all be close enough to catch the trade wind. There will be a match in the nice match to follow. For them, it must be stimulating to navigate in this way. The proximity reassures and allows to surpass itself. They gather experience and have fun. And they fight for the 5th place on the Route du Rhum, it's not nothing! They are having a great race.
"The variety of the IMOCA class is a strength"
I am also Erik Nigon and Ari Huusela. I do not know them but I see that for the rookies of IMOCA, they respond very well. This first transat solo can be memorable for them. The mix of profiles, sports courses and generations is one of the hallmarks of the IMOCA class. Competitors do not necessarily have the same level of sport on the water but everyone is racing, tells a story. This variety is a force. Morgan Lagravière