Of the boats lining up at the start, only the ULTIMs can rely on their extraordinary speed potential to quickly escape from the coastline, which is not very frequented in these low-pressure conditions.
As for the six Ocean Fifty boats and 44 monohulls, they are heading for Lorient, a forced and improvised stopover to take shelter before the arrival of the two virulent lows. After the passage of these two systems, it won't be until Monday 6 November that these two fleets will set off from the courtyards of Groix and find the ocean paths leading to the West Indies.
As for the 40 IMOCA boats, given their number and the impossibility of finding a port on the Atlantic coast, they will be sheltered in Le Havre until better days arrive. After nine long days of waiting, they finally reached the Bay of Seine, for a start under a fine winter's sun and in a steady breeze.
IMOCA, Class40, Ocean Fifty, no class has been spared. Many competitors suffered their share of damage and were thrown off course. The majority repaired and set off again.
In Fort-de-France, the finish line honoured the near-perfect race of Armel Le Cléac'h and Sébastien Josse. It also consecrates a fleet of maxi trimarans which has achieved the great feat of completing a transatlantic race of XXL size.
As for the Ocean Fifty, Solidaires en Peloton has taken the yellow jersey of indisputable leader.
The first of the monohulls, For People, sailed by the reigning IMOCA champion duo, took the win. Thomas Ruyant and Morgan Lagravière have repeated their success aboard this new boat with panache.
In the Class40s, victory went straight to the formidable duo of Alla Grande Pirelli, formed by Ambrogio Becarria and Nicolas Andrieu, who made the most of their race combining speed and tactical finesse.