MOD 70 Krys Ocean Race from New York to Brest - Update

As the first 24 hours of racing elapsed since a relatively benign, sticky departure from New York, it was Sidney Gavignet and the international crew of Musandam-Oman Sail which set the bar, heading for a first day’s run of around 610 miles. The team which includes two less experienced Omani sailors – Moshin Al Busaidi and Fahad Al Hasni - were just under five miles ahead of Seb Josse’s Gorupe Edmond de Rothschild.

During a first night during which FONCIA skipper Michel Desjoyeaux admitted that they had initially struggled to find their ideal configuration and pace, Gavignet and his crew took the lead during the small hours of Sunday. Though they latterly conceded a few miles to Josse and his crew, Musandam-Sail Oman showed a sustained speed advantage, averaging more than 30kts.

“We are just trying to hang on. It is as simple as that” Gavignet reported Sunday afternoon, “We have just had our first nose down at 32kts. It was not so nice. Temperatures are warm but it is still difficult to sleep. It is all good on Oman Sail. Moshin and Fahid are doing great”

If the morale was high on board the race leaders, there was disappointment for Stève Ravussin and the crew of Race for Water. The Swiss flagged team were coming to terms with damage to their daggerboard they sustained around 0500hrs Sunday morning after hitting a partially submerged container whilst they lead the race.

Three of the crew, including composite expert Yvan Ravussin were charged with effecting a composite repair to the damage, and this afternoon they reported that they had the board back in place, though not fully immersed and powered up.

The skipper reported: "Our daggeboard is broken at different levels and there is not too much more that we can do. We have put it back in place but lost time during the repair and the checking the boat over but now are back at race pace. We are in winds of 25 knots and 3 metres seas.”

The fleet remained tightly matched with just six miles of lateral separation between Musandam-Oman Sail to the south and the track of Groupe Edmond de Rothschild and Foncia slightly to the north.

Weather forecasts confirm at least another two days of high speed conditions.

Quote from Sébastien Josse, skipper Groupe Edmond de Rothschild

"Conditions are those that we expected really, winds have been downwind. The first night at sea is quite good. The seas are getting up a little as we get into the Gulf Stream. Usually we have two or three people on deck with someone on standby all the time. We saw Race for Water at the start of the night but they are out of sight. But we monitor the fleet on the computer and can see we all have similar conditions."

News update from Musandam-Oman Sail

Musandam-Oman Sail, the Omani Multi One Design 70, was lying in fourth place in the Krys Ocean Race fleet alongside Michel Desjoyeaux’ Foncia and Sebastian Josse’ Groupe Edmond de Rothschild, 1,000 miles into the race from New York to Brest when shortly before midnight (UTC) on Sunday July 8th, the port foil, which adds extra speed by lifting the hull out of the water, failed.

“We were going between 30 and 32 knots in about 25 knots of breeze when we noticed the boat had slowed down and the bow was digging in deeper than usual,” explained skipper Sidney Gavignet.

It is not clear why the equipment failed but it was removed and put down below. Further investigations will take place when the boat gets to land.

“We didn’t feel anything and couldn’t see any reason why it did happen. It is not good news - we are now sailing at 70% of our potential – the other boats are going at 30 knots but we are at around 25 which is disappointing but there is nothing we can do until we get the boat to Brest and have a look. Until then, we will just keep going.”

The crew are all safe, Gavignet added though naturally they were all disappointed after making a good start to the race where they were leading in the first 24 hours.