Davy Beaudart (Actual) : « During the day, it's going to soften a little and will refuse approach to the ridge of high pressure. The boats ahead will encounter it first. On board, Sam (Davies) is going through models in order to determine the optimal route to pass under the ice zone, it will not be easy. Going to follow by tacking. The atmosphere is very good on board and we are very happy being at sea. »
Gwénolé Gahinet (IDEC SPORT) : « We are very happy, the race start is great. We did maneuvers and our own trajectories. Last night was a bit more difficult in close-hauled on a slightly choppy sea, and we saw Macif taking over us with a good speed. They had to take a reef before us, but with their tilting mast and his foils. In such conditions, they have a clear advantage. This morning, we're in the becalmed, and we are waiting for a small rotation to tack. We are steering the boat the way Francis (Joyon) likes to do. We place the cursor on the conduct of the boat always quite high, while trying to reduce the amount of the maneuvers, as we are only five on board. »
François Gabart (Macif) : « We're obviously delighted to have managed to widen the gap with IDEC SPORT, it would be a shame not to be. But we are arriving in an area with not so much wind, so we remain cautious.
That night, we had as much as 20-25 knots, to the unbridled, then a small slack. Today, we are again going down in an area with very little wind, with probably a small edge-to-edge port to do. In these conditions, the other boats could either catch up or we could widen even more the gap. In the next 24 hours, we have at least two tacks to trigger, with many changes of sails. Lots of things can happen, we can get back up. Going to New York is not that simple, I can assure you! The conditions are not helping. We're a bit stuck by the anticyclone and the ice zone. But we will go with the flow, we do not have the choice. »
Thomas Coville (Sodebo Ultim’) : « Since the small shift 48 hours ago, we have a lot of maneuvering to do, it's pretty intense. We go from close-hauled to unbridled paces, through the wind, It is crucial to follow a rhythm, patterns. From the start, it did not much downwind. We hope to enjoy or create a small shift, a small change of angle to catch up. We'll see if the ice zone path offers us an opportunity. »