Sam Goodchild (MACIF Santé Prévoyance): “We’re not making the most of it!”
“We’re sailing close-hauled in winds of between 15 and 18 knots. The sea is definitely starting to swell, and it’s getting rough. The next 24 hours will be among the toughest of the race. I’m getting ready for it – we’ve got a tack coming up to change tack, and after that it’ll be a race against the clock. The weather’s fine, but we’re not making the most of it! Everything’s fine on board; I managed to get a total of four hours’ sleep, and I’m glad I was able to rest up to tackle the next 24 hours. It’s not at all the same atmosphere as at the start; we’re facing the sea, and the boat’s taking a real beating. But we’re prepared for this! On the other hand, it’s true that if I can pull away from Corentin (Horeau), that would suit me just fine!”
Corentin Horeau (MACSF): “We’re going to learn a lot”
“Yes, it was a good start. I managed to pull away a bit at the start, which was really cool. Then we tacked along the Île d’Yeu and went upwind. We’re on a course where Sam (Goodchild) has pulled away a bit and we’re all trying to push hard to catch him. The night was quite nice and pretty challenging, with an average speed of between 22 and 26 knots and a top speed of 27 knots. This morning, we’ve turned to starboard; there’s a bit less wind than expected and the sky is clearing. The challenge is knowing when to tack to set course for Ireland. The second night looks set to be even tougher with 3 to 3.5-metre swells and 25 to 30 knots. But it’s a good warm-up; we know we’re going to learn a lot!”
