Near gale on Marseille: the M 30s stay ashore

The weather conditions imposed that decision
During the skippers’ briefing, Corinne Aubert, president of the race committee, said: “the weather conditions imposed that choice upon us. We decided to cancel today’s windward leeward races, and to postpone the start of the offshore leg up to tomorrow”. For race director Alain Fédensieu, “this will allow the competitors to sail in adequate conditions to Hyères”.

Only a few coefficients left before the arrival
The last offshore leg will have a rating of two, plus a rating of one for each raced that is sailed in Hyères – Toulon Provence Méditerranée… there are fewer and fewer occasions to change the overall ranking! The opponents will have to be 100% during the next two days so as to take the advantage… Daniel Souben, current leader in the overall ranking aboard Courrier Dunkerque, is glad about that: “we are only twenty-two points ahead of Nouvelle-Calédonie, so we prefer not to take the risk of losing our advantage”.

Vincent Portugal, skipper of Nouvelle-Calédonie, would rather have raced more legs: “our interest is to sail as many races as possible, in order to catch up Courrier Dunkerque. They may still do a bad result, so the race isn’t over at all!” Whichever the outcome of the regatta, Vincent Portugal is positive: “this year’s winner of the Tour de France Sailing Race will be a great sailor!”

As far as Dimitri Deruelle (Elcimaï – Ville de Marseille) is concerned, he also regrets this situation. “We are only three points behind Nouvelle-Calédonie, so the loss of six races isn’t an advantage at all!”

The departure of the race towards Hyères – Toulon Provence Méditerranée will be given tomorrow at 9am, limit time of arrival is set at 2am on Wednesday. A strong wind will be blowing during the first half of this 48 nautical miles offshore leg, and it be lighter by the end of the day.