The Ocean Race returned to the charge in Aarhus (Denmark) with the reincorporation of the VO65 fleet for the European stages.
The first to cross the start line on a sunny afternoon with light breezes were the five VO65s, who have returned to compete in the second stage of the VO65 Sprint after a three-month sabbatical. With two legs to go in the race in Genoa, the VO65 classification is still very open and the leg to The Hague is an important opportunity to score points. The arrival is scheduled for June 11.
As the afternoon progressed, the IMOCA fleet took to the start. In the round the world standings, everything is yet to be decided: the 11th Hour Racing Team is in first position, but only one point ahead of Team Holcim-PRB.
The IMOCA fleet heads towards the passage through the Kiel fly-by beacon, where more than 100,000 visitors and 1,000 boats are expected in the Kiel Fjord, with an expected arrival time of mid-afternoon this Friday, before heading towards the goal of The Hague.
IMOCA
Two hours after the VO65s had left Aarhus, the 10 knot winds dropped dramatically to just 2-4 knots. Frustration and stress gripped the IMOCA fleet at the start of a stage that already promises to be extremely challenging, especially over the next 24 hours until the Kiel fly-by.
With such poor wind conditions, the five teams aimed to minimize maneuvering and staged a slow fight of resistance, but with enormous emotion.
At the committee boat’s end, Team Malizia (ALE) played an aggressive tactic with Team Holcim-PRB (SUI) which resulted in Holcim-PRB diving behind the German boat before pushing Malizia over the line of departure too early, forcing the Germans to restart the stage behind the fleet.
Meanwhile, the 11th Hour Racing Team and Biotherm made the best starts, closely followed by Team Holcim-PRB.
At the first turn, the 11th Hour Racing Team had extended their lead over Biotherm, with Team Holcim-PRB in third. Further back, Malizia had overtaken GUYOT environnement – Team Europe.
In the third section of a square course, the wind shifted 40 degrees, turning the section into a beat that a priori was not.
Halfway through this stretch, the wind dropped even more, changing direction before dying out completely. As the five boats struggled to progress, the stress only increased between the teams. Everyone knew that, in these conditions, the first to reach the wind the breeze usually get ahead easily. The wait was excruciating.
As the fleet cleared the starting gate and headed towards Kiel, the 11th Hour Racing Team led the fleet, with Biotherm second, Team Holcim-PRB third, GUYOT environnement fourth and Malizia fifth.
The scheduled arrival in Kiel is Friday afternoon, with the fleet due to arrive in The Hague on Sunday, June 11.
VO65
Having dominated the previous two inshore races, the WindWhisper Racing Team (POL) led by Pablo Arrarte from Cantabria felt the pressure to repeat his performance in the second leg of the VO65 Sprint.
In contrast to the very light wind conditions earlier in the week when the last race was held, the wind was 10 knots across the entire race course at start time.
At the start, the WindWhisper Racing Team pulled ahead and was forced to re-start. Gerwin Jansen’s Austrian Ocean Racing powered by Team Genova (AUT/ITA) was penalized for an infringement at the start and had to drop back behind the fleet.
This left the Mirpuri/Trifork Racing Team (DEN) with Roberto Chuny Bermúdez de Castro as skipper and Team JAJO (NED) where Simbad Quiroga from the Canary Islands sails leading the first leg with Viva México (MEX), in which Jaime Arbones sails and Gonzalo Infante, in third position.
At the first turn Team JAJO tacked in the lead with the Mirpuri/Trifork Racing Team close behind.
After the second lap and as the fleet headed northeast at the start of the ocean leg, Team JAJO managed to extend their lead to more than 400 metres.
Behind them, the competition was very close: Mirpuri/Trifork Racing Team in second, Viva México in third, WindWhisper Racing Team hot on their heels in fourth and Austrian Ocean Racing powered by Team Genova in fifth as the fleet passed through the final gate. coastal.
From there, the fleet headed north in the afternoon sun, heading for The Hague.
