With the exception of two crews, the whole fleet has rounded the northernmost point of the CIC Normandy Channel Race guarded by the Tuskar Rock lighthouse. Fabien Delahaye and Benjamin Schwartz aboard Legallais were the first to reach southern Ireland and make an about turn yesterday night at 22:10:05 hours. It was a moment they only just had the time to savour as their closest pursuers quickly followed suit. Xavier Macaire and Carlos Manera went around the Irish rock 11 minutes and 10 seconds later, tailed by Sogestran – Seafrigo and Project Rescue Ocean 3 minutes after SNEF and just 7 seconds apart. Within the hour, a dozen Class40s had successfully negotiated this iconic passage, which is a reflection of how intense and hotly contested this edition has been. After the troop of scows, it was Réunion Island’s Free Dom, which treated itself to the top spot in the intermediate ranking as the first sharp to reach Tuskar Rock, just 54 minutes astern of Viranga. Trim Control remains in contact too after rounding the lighthouse 9 minutes later.
Once again, the plot line for this CIC Normandy Channel Race is calling upon its actors to dig deep into their tactical know-how out on the racetrack. The delight at making the Tuskar Rock rounding was short-lived however. Indeed, with their ascent of the Celtic Sea barely complete, the skippers were rock-hopping at Carnsore Point off the south-east tip of Ireland. This move enabled the Class40s to get some protection from the current before tackling the next section of racetrack leading them down to Fastnet Rock. Next, in a repeat of the initial plot line in this edition, the CIC Normandy Channel Race actors split in two according to whether their strategy involved an inshore or an offshore option. The head of the fleet, which still has Groupe SNEF, Legallais and Sogestran – Seafrigo taking centre stage, has favoured a course close to shore. Aside from the benefits of being able to savour the renowned beauty of the Emerald Isle, it would seem that the boats picking their way along the coast are also enjoying the best conditions. This is thanks to the wind accelerating off the lilting landscape and filling their sails with a precious few extra knots.
The battle also continues to rage among the sharp boats. Throughout the fleet some genuine match racing is colouring play on this Celtic chessboard, whether that be between Trim Control and Free Dom, who are constantly jockeying for the lead, esatco and Belco CEC who have been a mile apart at best since the Isle of Wight, or Jangada 40 which is in hot pursuit of Ose Ta Victoire. Safe to say it’s a thrilling race, the outcome of which is impossible to call.
Positioned level with Kinsale, the head of the fleet is due to make Fastnet over the course of the afternoon before they have to deal with less comfortable conditions for the first time in this epic event.
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