After a meeting between skippers and Race Direction of the Transat Jacques Vabre this morning the start of the biennial race from Le Havre to Puerto Limon, Costa Rica, race director Jean Maurel announced the decision to postpone the start.
A prologue race will be staged with a start at 1302hrs.
The decision was taken because of the approach of a very significant low pressure system due to generate storm force winds for the 35 teams of two skippers which were due to set off today, Sunday, at 1302hrs. CET.
Although the weather forecast promises fair winds for the first 24 hours conditions deteriorate from Tuesday.
The arrival of the large very deep depression generates stormy conditions for 48 hours: sustained winds of 45 knots, gusting to 55-60 knots in heavy seas associated with a (8 to 10 m) behind the cold front.
"It's a decision taken as a sailor,” said race director Jean Maurel, “which takes into account the participation of all three classes. We wanted to maintain the overall integrity of the whole fleet "
The start is postponed to a date to be announced later depending on the evolution of this depression. But it will not be set before Wednesday.
The prologue exhibition race will be staged instead, following a 13 miles coastal course. The race organisers and skippers have shown a determination to provide a spectacle for the tens of thousands of visitors and spectators who are in the port for the race start.
The programmed dock-out schedule is maintained, with first IMOCA Open 60’s and Class 40’s due to cast off and leave the Paul Vatine basin at 1030hrs, the start of a parade through the Abeilles quays and along past the parking area of the Musée André Malraux before heading on to the race area.
Quotes:
Alex Thomson (GBR) skipper Hugo Boss (GBR): “I think that everyone has to go together. I would have been happy to go but if we all went and 30% of the fleet wiped out then that does not help sailing, it does not help sponsorship and so I think it is the right decision.”
Anna Maria Renken (GER), Class 40 Gust Buster (AUT): “It is a relief. We are pretty happy with the decision. We were concerned and had every reason to be concerned. It is a reasonable decision given that the Trimarans don’t want to go and half of the IMOCA’s don’t want to go. So the answer was pretty much there already.”
Mike Golding (GBR) IMOCA Open 60 Gamesa (GBR): “I think it is the right decision. We have been working with Commander’s Weather from the USA and last night they sent a file, they used the words this is ‘an historic storm’ so that says it all. The other point is that while the Open 60’s might be able to go in it, to divide the fleet is bad for communication, and if something subsequently did arise then the question would arise ‘why did you send them?’. And at the end of the day they set the race for the whole fleet. It is the right decision. We will do the prologue today and look to book some go-karting!”
Nick Halmos (USA): skipper 11th Hour Racing (USA): “ It is nice to have prudence play a role in decisions made by the race committee. It is one thing to be caught by a storm but something different to knowingly sail into the middle of one. We have more of a chance making it through as one fleet and now we have a chance of a race rather than a survival contest. And finally we can enjoy Le Havre, we are ready to go, done with the boat work and we can some rest, have a good meal.”
Loïc Escoffier, Multi 50 Maitre Jacques:
"In the 50 Multis, we had already met to make a decision. It is much wiser like this. We will still try to do the prologue today. Tomorrow I think I go back to Saint-Malo to my fishing business before returning to take the start. "
Tanguy De Lamotte, Class 40 Initiatives - Alex Oliver
"This decision does not surprise me because since Wednesday we talked with the class of this possible delay. I was rather surprised that multis did not consider that. For me it was obvious. Now that the decision is made there are a lot of skippers who say they are happy not to leave. Now we go to race. The important thing is not to make the race a test of survival. "
Yann Elies, IMOCA Safran
"The option of going to confront the elements like that has a high risk that I know only too well, injuries…. rescue ... So it is a bit of a relief to expect now that we will go with better conditions on Thursday. "
