Day 6 - first to the Canaries, a significant milestone
And the good news from onboard 11th Hour Racing in the Transat Café L’OR just keeps on coming.
After taking the lead of the 18-strong IMOCA fleet north of the Canaries, Francesca Clapcich and Will Harris have not only held on to it, but have extended it.
In the past 24 hours their advantage, as they tacked and headed south midway between the coast of Morocco and Fuertevenura, has grown from a margin of three miles over their nearest pursuers to now more than 20 ahead of a chasing pack of eight boats.
Throughout this critical period, sailing in very light airs, 11th Hour Racing’s position to the west and south of the bunch has consistently paid off, with the boat almost always first to the new breeze – and the stronger breeze – ahead of its rivals.
This morning, at sunrise, the boat was reaching [sailing with the wind on the side of the boat] at 18 knots in a fresh north-easter, a good five knots faster than those in the group behind, led by second-placed Charal (+21.2), then Teamwork-Team SNEF (+22.8) followed, in close order, by Allagrande MAPEI and MACIF Santé Prévoyance.
On board 11th Hour Racing there was time to celebrate a significant milestone as they became the first to reach the Canaries. Will and Francesca were together in a dark cockpit watching the boat on the screen at the nav station.
“Here we go!” exclaimed Will. “First to the Canaries – let’s go…Whoa!”
“Look at that – nice!” added Francesca with a big smile visible in the near-dark cockpit.
Then Will again: “Made it – perfect. Nice work, eh?”
“Yes!” replied Francesca as they high fived to reward themselves for an impressive nearly six days of competitive sailing.
Indeed, they have been on the pace in both heavy and light air. Throughout the past week they have always been in the hunt for the podium positions before taking the lead outright in conditions that might not have favoured their boat against some of their opponents. Meanwhile, the boat itself is in great shape.
The big question ahead for them now is how far south do they go to get away from the wind shadow of the islands, before they dare to start heading west towards Martinique. The weather picture south and west of the Canaries looks anything but straightforward, with large areas of calms disrupting the Trade Winds.
Being the leader at this point is going to require cool nerves with the ever-present danger that boats behind could steal a march by going earlier. Or conversely, 11th Hour Racing could turn west first and then see the pack sail on by, heading further south.
It’s going to be a fascinating couple of days in this compelling 17th edition of this classic double-handed race across the Atlantic.
Ed Gorman