7 days, 14 hours, 21 minutes and 47 seconds… The Route du rhum record set by Francis Joyon four years ago could well be shattered.
After the start was postponed for three days, with a flight scheduled for Wednesday at 2:15 p.m. in Saint-Malo, the first of the 138 boats could head for Guadeloupe, benefiting from optimal conditions to establish new reference times.
Morgan Lagravière, member of the routing unit for Charles Caudrelier's Maxi Edmond de Rothschild explains:
“Leaving on Sunday, the hope of breaking the record was dim because the really very strong conditions would have impacted the management of the boat and therefore its speed.
There were a lot of uncertainties on the first days of racing
.
With the postponement of the start to Wednesday, the situation clearly changes.
Today, the two forecasting models to which we have access (CEP and GFS) are in phase.
When we launch routings, the race times are very interesting in Ultim 32/23, below the record with a crossing possible in just under 6 days”.
Well-established trade winds
Also working for Thomas Ruyant (LinkedOut), who in a monohull will not be entitled to routing assistance, Morgan Lagravière is also predicting a great time for the Imocas, the Vendée Globe boats:
"The routings for the best Imocas give a race time of less than 11 days
.
The start of the race will be tricky, with a first front to pass.
Then, the conditions will be favorable with a wind allowing you to progress abeam and downwind, speeds conducive to speed.
The trade winds seem well established.
Another binding parameter: the trajectories may be quite close to the orthodromy, the direct route.
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Record to beat for these monohulls: 12 days 4 hours 38 minutes and 55 seconds