New York Vendée-Les Sables d’Olonne: the final huge race earlier than the Vendée Globe for the IMOCA fleet – Nautical Information

After an thrilling version of The Transat CIC, wherein the IMOCA skippers traveled from Lorient to New York, the second version of the New York Vendée-Les Sables d’Olonne is about to start. This Wednesday, 29 solo skippers will set sail off the coast of America, ending 3,600 miles later in Les Sables d’Olonne, the host port of the Vendée Globe.

This race is especially essential, as it’s the final main occasion at sea earlier than the beginning of the Vendée Globe, scheduled for November 10. It’s a final probability for particular skippers to qualify for a race world wide. For others, it is a chance to check their boats in windy circumstances. Lastly, for everybody, it is a new alternative to expertise the difficult rhythm of solo racing.

Among the many captains at the beginning, a number of didn’t take part within the Transat CIC, however they transported their boats to the USA particularly for this race. That is the case of the Frenchman Thomas Ruyant and the British Sam Goodchild, the 2 skippers of the TR Racing workforce.

© Marin Le Roux / polaRYSE / IMOCA

Sam Goodchild is keen to get again to sea after deciding to not race the primary transatlantic race of the season, a strategic choice that focuses his power reserved for the Vendée Globe. “I really feel able to go. I am actually comfortable to get again on the water,” stated the Briton, the reigning IMOCA Globe Sequence champion. “The principle motive I skipped the final race was to keep away from a fats pile-up on the finish of the yr to start out the Vendée Globe in fine condition. I am very comfortable to be right here to start out tomorrow.”

To make sure that he completes his qualification course for the Vendée Globe, Sam Goodchild plans to start out cautiously. Nonetheless, this race can even be an excellent alternative to speed up within the downwind levels. “That is one final probability to check the boat, attempt to break issues and see what form we get on the opposite aspect,” he defined.

A yr in the past, on the Ocean Race, Sam was on this identical course aboard IMOCA Holcim-PRB. On this identical transatlantic, the workforce set a brand new file for distance coated in 24 hours in a monohull with 595.26 miles, exhibiting that this route could be one of many quickest in sea racing. Nonetheless, the predictions for this race don’t counsel that this file, or the solo file (539.81 miles in 24 hours by Thomas Ruyant) shall be crushed.

Sam Goodchild has no doubts about his favourite race. In response to him, teammate Thomas Ruyant, who has gained three races throughout the Atlantic on two totally different boats – two Transat Jacques Vabre and Route du Rhum – is the candidate to beat him.

“Thomas is the favourite, for certain,” says Goodchild. “Will probably be attention-grabbing to see the duel between him and Yoann Richomme, skipper of Paprec Arkéa, winner of The Transat CIC and the Return to Base. However I might nonetheless wager on Thomas. The advantage of it’s that it’s his second boat with the identical workforce and so they have already performed the Vendée Globe. Their expertise is big, they know what they’re doing, they know the place they’re going and they’re agency. »

Whereas Sam goals for one more podium end, his rivals shall be in opposition to Frenchman Maxime Sorel, who lately conquered Mount Everest. The V and B-Monbana-Mayenne skipper, fifth within the Transat CIC, is hoping to at the very least repeat this efficiency aboard his 2022 Verdier design, regardless of current injury to his port .

© Maxime Falcone

Maxime Sorel has clearly acknowledged his intentions for the following race. “I want to keep in the principle group with the rivals I normally meet – corresponding to Yannick Bestaven (Maître CoQ), Sam Goodchild and Boris Herrmann (Malizia-Seaexplorer)”.

The Cancalais skipper is getting ready for the primary few troublesome days of racing in variable circumstances and has analyzed the primary version of this race eight years in the past. “Though it is principally downwind, we might come throughout complicated transition zones,” he explains. “In 2016, there have been two teams, one within the north and one within the south, which got here collectively on the finish. The arrival of the Bay of Biscay might additionally change the scenario. Something can occur and that is how I will cope with it – even when the brand new boats benefit from the begin, we won’t hand over till the end line. »

Like Goodchild, Sorel will use this final race earlier than the Vendée Globe to check the gear wanted for the world race. In the course of the Transat CIC, he and his workforce have examined a number of parts. “We examined and verified many issues alongside the way in which, particularly due to the wind circumstances we encountered. This contains the sails, modified sensors and construction. This can be a huge plus as a result of it reveals that numerous our gear is dependable, which may be very reassuring for the workforce. We are going to proceed to substantiate parts after we return, and outline definitively all of the sails for the Vendée Globe,” he explains.

Amongst those that are nonetheless not sure about beginning the Vendée Globe is the 26-year-old younger British skipper, James Harayda, from the Gentoo Crusing Group. After ending nineteenth within the Transat CIC aboard his 2007 Finot-Conq, James remains to be hoping to qualify, regardless of lacking the Transat Jacques Vabre and Return to Base final yr on as a result of rigging injury.

James Harayda is getting ready for a decisive race to safe a spot among the many 40 skippers who qualify for the Vendée Globe. “The New York Vendée is our final qualifying race, so these miles are essential. It’s obligatory for me to cross the end line,” he says.

The younger sailor primarily based in Gosport, on the south coast of England, who completed 14th within the Route du Rhum in 2022, will inevitably be disenchanted if he doesn’t begin in November. “My coronary heart is about on this Vendée Globe – I’m decided to participate in it.” »

In the course of the time between races, the Gentoo Crusing Group carried out repairs on one of many mainmasts and a few work on the sails. He’s now prepared to return to sea “Historically, this race may be very quick and usually downwind, with a reasonably sturdy wind. Though we’re nonetheless just a few days earlier than we depart, the forecasts look attention-grabbing and a bit contrived, particularly for the primary days. I hope we are able to hit stronger winds as a result of my IMOCA performs nicely in these circumstances,” he explains.

The skipper acknowledges that this race could possibly be his final in IMOCA if he doesn’t qualify for the Vendée Globe, however he intends to profit from it and proceed to ‘ improvement of his achievements. “I discovered loads from The Transat CIC, so it will likely be very important to get all these classes for this race.”