© Thomas Campion
At 09:57:14, Jules Delpech on P’TIT DUC rounded this last obstacle. He was followed 42 seconds later by Alexis Loison (Groupe REEL). Sadly, there’s no time for sightseeing, even if the stunning white chalk cliffs of the Needles, at the western tip of the Isle of Wight, are worth a visit. After dropping their spinnakers, the sailors resumed sailing upwind in strong tidal currents that demanded the utmost caution. Hugging the English coastline, they tacked relentlessly through the bays lining the shore.
© Thomas Campion
By 4 p.m., Alexis Loison was still in command of the fleet—perfect timing to launch the final crossing towards Roscoff. Less than 120 nautical miles remain for the Norman sailor to stake his claim and try to secure victory. Six competitors are currently sailing within a mile of each other: Jules Delpech (P’TIT DUC), Paul Morvan (French Touch – Foricher), Victor Le Pape (Région Bretagne – CMB Espoir), Tom Goron (Groupe Dubreuil), and Charlotte Yven (Skipper Macif 2023).
Pushing westward
For now, the sailors are all pushing hard to the west, awaiting the expected wind shift later in the afternoon—a tack that could allow them to pass west of the DST.
Although conditions remain manageable for the moment, the arrival of the front will make life on board considerably tougher. In this final sprint across the Channel, the sharpest and least fatigued sailors will come out on top. The ETA for the first arrivals in Roscoff is around 5 a.m.
They said:
“I’m not very comfortable in strong winds, but I’ll do my best. Physically, I’ve managed to rest well since the start of the race. We’re currently sailing along the English south coast. The wind will gradually strengthen, and it’s going to get less and less fun. We’ve got 24 hours of rough weather ahead,” said Chloé Le Bars (Endobreizh).
© Thomas Campion
“With the English coast, you can play some tricks with the tide. Right now it’s a bit of a battle with Romain Bouillard (Décrochons la lune). We’re heading out on a long port tack, then we’ll be able to make the course. Before the downwind section, I took advantage of a bit of calm to change clothes, sleep, and bail out the boat for more comfort,” explained Eliaz Morineau (Demain sans HPV).
“For a first Solitaire, I’m super happy to be here. It’s incredible. I’m a bit disappointed with my last night though. I’d managed a few good moves but made mistakes in the Channel. I’m a little behind, but the race is still on, I’m not far off. There are still a few fronts to cross today and tonight. It’s still pretty cool heading into the finish—the game is wide open,” commented Hugo Cardon (Sarth’Atlantique).
© Thomas Campion
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