Krys Ocean Race Prologue - Newport to New York - Start
by Multi One Design 3 Jul 2012 07:57 BST
2 July 2012
KRYS OCEAN RACE prologue race start in Newport © Billy Black / KRYS OCEAN RACE
Groupe Edmond de Rothschild leading the dance
Sebastien Josse and his young crew on Groupe Edmond de Rothschild made the best start to the KRYS OCEAN RACE prologue, leading the MOD70 fleet out of Newport en route for New York City.
History for the fleet was made when the five MOD70's answered the start gun as one, lining up in picture postcard Newport conditions.
In the puffy, gusty 11-15kts NW'ly breeze Josse and his crew were quickest off the start line and were immediately able to give a flash of just how exciting inshore racing on the MOD70's will be. They were powered up immediately to make an early jump on Steve Ravussin's Race for water on a short, rapid reach to the first of two rounding marks.
At the first turn Yann Guichard's slick team on Spindrift racing were able to seize second, while the wily Michel Desjoyeaux and his FONCIA lay third as they bid farewell to Newport.
The very best of the high speed action was in the Bay, each of the MOD70's successively accelerating on to one hull.
Although Groupe Edmond de Rothschild had built a decent lead by time the fleet were beating upwind, against the current, the wind was already falling, true to the forecast for gentle winds for the passage to New York, where the leaders should arrive between 10:00hrs and 11:00hrs Tuesday morning.
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