Finding the Right Balance

Corentin Horeau Forced to Retire

It was undoubtedly the defining moment of the night. Yesterday evening, at around 21:00, while lying second in the fleet, Corentin Horeau suffered damage aboard MACSF. The J3 chainplate, the structural attachment point securing the headsail to the hull, was torn from the deck.

For nearly two hours, the skipper and his technical team explored every possible solution that might allow repairs and a continuation of the race. Given the conditions expected over the coming days and the risk of worsening the damage, the decision was ultimately made to retire. The sailor is currently making his way back to Lorient, his home port. The news inevitably resonated throughout the fleet.

Sam Goodchild, who had been racing alongside the sailor from La Trinité-sur-Mer since the start, did not hide his disappointment. “I’m sad for Coco. It’s tough to see him turning back. He was sailing really well and had made a superb start to the race. Losing a competitor like that is always disappointing. But I’m sure he’ll come back even stronger.” Beyond the emotion, the retirement also serves as a reminder that the Vendée Arctique has entered a phase where even the smallest incident can carry significant consequences.

Sailing Fast, But Not Too Fast

Off the coast of Ireland, the IMOCA fleet is currently navigating the toughest conditions encountered so far in this edition. For the leading boats, the forecast peak in both wind and sea state has now arrived. Sam Goodchild passed through it overnight after rounding southwest Ireland and Dingle Bay at around 04:00. Leading the fleet by nearly fifty nautical miles over Elodie Bonafous (Association Petits Princes – Quéguiner), the Franco-British sailor nevertheless chose to ease off slightly. “For several hours I’ve been slowing down to avoid slamming too hard into the waves,” he explained, while the heavy impacts and violent movements of the boat could be heard in the background of his voice message.

“The objective is to sail fast, but not too fast. We’re trying to eliminate the biggest accelerations and the hardest impacts.” A subtle exercise. “The wind isn’t stable. There are squalls, so I’m staying close to the sheets in order to slow the boat down quickly if necessary. It’s demanding.” On board, priorities are changing as well. In four-metre seas, every movement becomes a delicate operation. “We’re doing less than the bare essentials,” he smiled. “I’m trying to move around as little as possible, make sure I don’t forget to eat and grab sleep whenever I can.” There is some good news, however. “The worst seems to be behind us now. Conditions should gradually ease and settle down.”

Prudence as a Performance Tool

In this context, raw speed tells only part of the story. For Ambrogio Beccaria, competing in his first major solo IMOCA race aboard Allagrande Mapei, caution is very much part of the performance equation. “I’m going to leave myself a bit of margin when passing Ireland. I may lose a few miles, because in these conditions even a small problem close to the coast can quickly become a much bigger issue.” The Italian is also discovering just how demanding solo life aboard an IMOCA can be in such conditions.

As if that were not enough, he also had to deal with an electrical failure.

“I suddenly found myself in complete darkness. I fixed everything in about twenty minutes, but finding yourself in a total blackout aboard an IMOCA travelling at more than twenty knots is definitely pretty frightening.” The same clear-eyed approach can be found aboard Coup de Pouce with Manu Cousin. Since the start, the skipper has had to deal with several minor issues linked to a preparation period shortened by the late relaunch of his boat.

A new hatch installed over the winter caused significant water ingress before eventually being sealed with Sikaflex. Other technical details have also added themselves to the list. Enough to frustrate some sailors. Not Manu Cousin. “I knew this race would also serve as a full-scale test for the boat and the foils. We relaunched quite late and hadn’t sailed much in these conditions. In the end, these are things that will get sorted out.” The sailor from Les Sables d’Olonne is entirely comfortable with his current philosophy. “The priority is to preserve the machine. The next twenty-four hours are going to be tough, even if we should be slightly less exposed than the leaders. We’ll have to hang on, grit our teeth and, above all, make sure we don’t break anything.”

The Arctic Is Beginning to Take Shape

While the boats endure this demanding stretch, strategic thinking is becoming increasingly precise. The Arctic Circle is gradually ceasing to be just a line on a chart. For the first time since the start, the broad routing options are beginning to emerge more clearly. “I’ve ruled out the western option,” revealed Sam Goodchild. “I’m now looking at several waypoints east of Iceland. That gives me more flexibility and allows me to delay the final decision a little longer.” 

The same thought process is unfolding aboard Allagrande Mapei. “It’s a real puzzle,” said Ambrogio Beccaria. “The fact that we have to think about the outbound leg while already keeping the return route in mind takes up a lot of our attention. I think we’ll start to have a clearer picture after passing Ireland.” For now, however, attention remains firmly focused on the immediate challenge. Before thinking about high latitudes, the sailors must still negotiate this building sea, manage the unstable conditions and protect both themselves and their boats. The High North is drawing ever closer.

But for the moment, it is still the Atlantic that is calling the shots.