Please select your home edition
Edition
Feb-Nov23 Leaderboard Groco2

The Race Club Med leads Innovation Explorer by 750 miles.

by Mer & Media on 18 Feb 2001
Sailing again in more reasonable conditions than
the previous two days, the giant Club Med catamaran was 750 miles closer to the finish
line at noon today than second placed Innovation Explorer.
Still with more than 4800 miles to sail to the finish in Marseilles, the Grant
Dalton-skippered entry in The Race was re-building some semblance of normality on
board after the last two days of wild sea conditions:

'By the middle of the day yesterday the conditions we had been battling with started to
abate, the wind dropped and the seas calmed down quickly. Now we are on port tack on
a long slow header out to the East. It isn't great for our progress to the finish but it is a
standard move in this part of the world to get to the Trades in an Easterly position before
tacking and sailing fast North again.'

The conditions took their toll on the crew but don't seem to have caused much distress
to the boat:

'We didn't break anything serious over the past few days, just a small rip in the mainsail
and a broken batten. It took an hour to repair it all.'

'With flat water and a regular motion to the boat again, sleep has come easily to the
off-watch crew now.'

'It is hot and sticky on board. The boat is drying out from weeks of totally saturation.
Where as a couple of weeks ago, even a couple of days ago, everyone gathered around
the kettle for that extra bit of warmth, today it is shirts off whenever possible and warm
sailing again.'

With regard to the second placed boat and their different approach to this part of the
world, Dalton had this to say:

'We've given up more than 300 miles to Innovation Explorer in the past three days. It's a
lot but often in the Atlantic the choices just aren't there. You have to sail with what you
have when you get there. They may well have different conditions to us when they come
through here but that is just the luck of the draw.'

'Looking further ahead, I don't think the South East Trades are going to be too powerful
for us and we may not pick up the pace again for a while. I think the late February finish
is just wishful thinking now. We'll see you in March.'

Related Articles

Biotherm has arrived in Kiel
Ahead of the Start of The Ocean Race Europe on 10th August At 1:00 am on Saturday 5 July, Biotherm came alongside in Kiel's marina, north-east Germany, following a 48-hour delivery trip across the Baltic Sea.
Posted today at 5:51 am
Transpac 2025 final starters depart LA
The largest boats with the longest waterlines already burning up the miles to Hawaii The 20 biggest, fastest boats racing in the 2025 Transpac began their offshore sprint from Los Angeles, California, to Honolulu, Hawaii, on Saturday.
Posted today at 1:05 am
Final countdown to the AEGEAN 600
60 teams assembled at Olympic Marine for Sunday's start of the AEGEAN 600 On Saturday, the 60 teams assembled at Olympic Marine for Sunday's start of the AEGEAN 600 are using their final pre-race day to make last checks on their rigging, sails, and electronic systems, provision for the days they expect to be at sea.
Posted on 5 Jul
29er Europeans at Lake Garda day 3
The fleet is now ready for the finals at Fraglia Vela Riva The 29er European Championship 2025 in Riva del Garda is already making history. With 251 teams from 29 nations, this year's edition has gathered one of the largest and most competitive fleets in class history.
Posted on 5 Jul
Team Malizia secures 4th in Course des Caps
After thrilling high-speed finale to Boulogne-sur-Mer After six days of intense racing around the British Isles, Team Malizia crossed the finish line in Boulogne-sur-Mer to secure an impressive fourth place in the Course des Caps 2025.
Posted on 5 Jul
Holcim-PRB finishes 3rd in the Course des Caps
Despite a bowsprit failure occurring just 40 nautical miles from the finish After 6 days, 4 hours, and 26 minutes of intense sailing around the British Isles, the Holcim-PRB crew crossed the finish line of the Course des Caps Boulogne-sur-Mer – Banque Populaire du Nord, completing a route as demanding as it was strategic.
Posted on 5 Jul
2025 IKA Youth Europeans in Gizzeria day 4
It's been a week of steady breeze and near-perfect conditions off the Calabrian coast It's been a week of steady breeze and near-perfect conditions off the Calabrian coast, and Gizzeria has put on a great show as host of the 2025 IKA Youth European Championships.
Posted on 5 Jul
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais day 4
All on the line Sunday as American Magic Quantum Racing seek to close out eighth world title After three spectacular races today on Cascais, Portugal's showcase high winds arena, Doug DeVos' seven times world title winners American Magic Quantum Racing lead into the final day of the 2025 Rolex TP52 Worlds with a hard earned five points buffer.
Posted on 5 Jul
MACIF Santé Prévoyance wins Course des Caps Race
An exceptional performance in terms of speed and focus throughout the race This Saturday, July 5, the IMOCA MACIF Santé Prévoyance crossed the finish line of the Cape Race in Boulogne-sur-Mer in first place. After six days at sea, the crew achieved an exceptional performance in terms of speed and focus throughout the race.
Posted on 5 Jul
Melges 24 European Series in Monfalcone day 2
The Melges 24 fleet flies on early morning Bora as Nefeli retains the lead The Bora wind made its mark on the second day of the seventh event of the 2025 Melges 24 European Sailing Series, also serving as the second stage of the 2025 Trofeo Gaudi, hosted by Yacht Club Monfalcone.
Posted on 5 Jul