The most anticipated boat is that of the most powerful category of the race (the Ultim, 32 m long), in the hands of sailors Franck Cammas and Charles Caudrelier (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild).
But the flying sailboat might not be the first to enter the bay of Fort-de-France.
Indeed, it could be preceded by a multihull of the Ocean Fifty class (15 m), the boats of this category having a shorter course.
According to the latest estimates given on Sunday evening, Sébastien Rogues and Matthieu Souven (Primonial) should cut the line on Monday around 9 p.m. local time (1 a.m. Tuesday Paris time), followed two hours later by Cammas / Caudrelier.
But nothing is really certain and the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, capable of spinning at top speeds of 49 knots (90 km / h), could well reach the West Indies before Primonial.
“It's almost the end but we have to stay focused on the boat to continue to use it as well as possible.
The latest forecasts do not see any major weather changes in front of us, just light winds, but we are in the Doldrums and by definition we know that here, nothing is taken for granted and that unforeseen events can still happen ” , Cammas pointed out.
Starting on November 7 from Le Havre, the biannual race will therefore have its outcome on Monday.
And there will not be one, but four winners, i.e. one per class of boat: the Ultimes (32 m) and the Ocean Fifty (15 m) for multihulls, and the Imoca (Vendée Globe boats, 18 m) and Class 40 (12 m) for monohulls.
The race management has set up three routes to take depending on the category of the sailboat to offer a relatively grouped finish.
The Ultimes (5 boats competing) have 7,500 nautical miles (13,890 km) to cover, 5,800 nm (10,741 km) for the Imoca (22 boats), ditto for the Ocean Fifty (7 boats), and 4,600 nm (8,519 km) for Class 40 (45 boats).
Among the Ultim, the victory of Cammas and Caudrelier is undeniable as they largely dominate with half a day ahead of their direct pursuers, Armel Le Cléac'h and Kevin Escoffier (Maxi Banque Populaire XI).
The Maxi Edmond de Rothschild is a giant launched in July 2017 and which is now quite reliable.
Enough to appease the players in this elitist fleet, which is making a comeback on a great classic after the heavy damage suffered during the Route du Rhum in 2018. The Transat Jacques Vabre is also a first for two of these flying maxi-trimarans : the Maxi Banque Populaire XI and the boat of François Gabart and Tom Laperche (SVR Lazartigue).
The Imoca expected Thursday
As for the Vendée Globe boats, the Imoca, the suspense is in order.
Sunday evening, Thomas Rettant and Morgan Lagravière (LinkedOut) were still in charge but Charlie Dalin and Paul Meilhat (Apivia) were in ambush some 85 km away.
Just like Jérémie Beyou and Christopher Pratt (Charal), 111 km from the leader.
The winner is expected Thursday at 4:00 am local time (9:00 am Paris time).
Finally, in Class 40, the first monohull should not arrive before Tuesday, November 30 in Martinique, which is hosting the Transat Jacques Vabre for the first time.
The festivities could be disrupted by the call for a general strike launched from Monday on the island.
The fleet of 79 boats had few setbacks as the sea was rather mild.
No 4-meter hollows that could have seriously damaged the boats.
Sunday evening, there were still only four withdrawals (2 Imoca and 2 class 40).
