The 5th day of Transat Jacques Vabre has got new leaders in IMOCA class as well as the Ultimes. There is no doubting that Erwan Tabarly and Armel Le Cléac’h have powered to the front of IMOCA fleet with new ‘foiling’ Banque Populaire VIII, this afternoon at twenty miles ahead of older PRB, course winners in the year 2011.
The top band of 4 IMOCAs have broken away and they are reaching fast as they follow the rotation of the brand new Azores high to make few useful westing. They possess a more conventional, classic routing towards south. But the leaders if the race on the five-thousand-four-hundred miles distance from Le Havre to Itajaí – the giant Ultime pair Macif and Sodebo Ultim’ – now see themselves working due west, passing the rhumb line, direct path at right angles to it, as they look to get west suddenly for what looks to be a disputing Doldrums crossing.
The whole course is only getting ready for the long term gain through the best and narrowest route. Meanwhile, their match is forgotten. However, for the record, Macif are calculated to be ahead of Sodebo Ultim for the very first time this race.
Class 40 has had a lot. They almost always engage in this. Today, but with 30-40kts upwind as well as tight achieving as they fight to escape the last of what must be the last depression of the north hemisphere.