Panerai Transat Classique
Lows may well be swirling their way across the North Atlantic, further south a big anticyclone is threatening to trap the fleet of the Panerai Transat Classique 2012 in a windless bubble. Most of the boats have chosen to make easting to avoid this zone of calm, and Jacques Caraës onRed Hackle explains why: “The option we’ve taken takes us towards Morocco until we gybe. I hope we’ll find a bit more pressure to help us reach our waypoint off the Savage Islands. The issue is how are we going to deal with this windless zone which is gently advancing towards us? We’ll find out in about thirty hours… perhaps more.” But for the moment life on board remains idyllic with delicious meals by Guy served on “the terrace” as the sun goes down. “The moon will soon come out to light up our route. Nature is so well organized; but I’m sure Comet Organisation has had a hand in it!” On Persephone, the Tina owned by Yves Lambert, the crew are also intently focused: “For the last 48 hours we’ve had the wind right behind us, surfing along. We haven’t had a break: little wind and the remnants of a disorganized swell means the helmsman has been keeping his eyes trained on the masthead tell-tale, especially at night. […] It’s high precision work, worthy of Panerai’s master watchmakers, to whom we owe this wonderful race.” For the moment the “east” group, which continues to be led by The Blue Peter and White Dolphin, is making good progress; while the “westerners”, including Valteam andGweneven, will probably lose speed in the coming hours.
