No routing for Ultim and Ocean50s What it means for the duos on board….

The skippers have long since proven that they are they can do just about everything. Racers, athletes, handymen and women, technicians. Being a top-level skipper requires you to be able to do everything well. But for the first time on the TRANSAT CAFÉ L’OR Le Havre Normandie, the multihull skippers (Ultimes and Ocean Fifty) now have to do their own weather analysis and strategy on board with no external input allowed.

"A routing unit consists of two or three people on land, on watch 24 hours a day, who analyze and analyse the weather and help make the right choices," explains Armel Le Cléac'h (Banque Populaire). "Solo then a weather routing team is understandable and needed because there are significant risks. But as a duo, we are capable of doing the weather too."

For Tom Laperche (SVR Lazartigue), this decision is very much in keeping with the times.

The young skipper explains: "The fact that we have much better connections and can receive more data on board, data retrieval is easier. A few years ago, it took the routers time to download multiple weather sources. Now, it's accessible in just a few clicks."

Tom says he is completely in favour of g routing on board, asserting "It makes the exercise even more comprehensive."

"Anyway before this all the teams had the same tools, the same data and so the same analyses and ultimately the same route choices," continues Anthony Marchand (Actual). "Now, it's going to be interesting to see everyone's tactical options."

"It's more exciting; there could be a slightly more varied number of choices, different analysis attempts, and perhaps more small mistakes," smiles his co-skipper, Julien Villion.

"Overall, it went well," Erwan explains. "I think this autonomy is really interesting for the future of our sport."

Each pair has done their homework and will be ready for the big day. "We all do our weather training again," smiles Tom Laperche, who points out that discussing the weather with others is possible right up until the start.

And then within the duos there is the allocation of roles and responsibilities,

"I'll be the one in charge of the meteo," assures Armel Le Cléac'h.

"It'll be me who'll be in charge, and Elodie-Jane Mettraux who will be more focused on performance," explains Anne-Claire Le Berre, while Erwan Le Roux assures us that he has "defined a routine."

"I'll collect the data, analyze it, and then I’ll discuss it with Audrey," he explains.

This Transat Café L'Or will therefore be slightly different from previous editions for the duos on the water. But everyone is looking forward to adding a little extra spice to the race.

"100% of the choices will come from us, that's bound to count," enthuses Armel Le Cléac'h, the defending champion. "It'll make the race even more interesting!"