Nice UltiMed: Actual-Grand Large Emotion forced to retire
by A.S.O. / Nice UltiMed 3 May 2018 02:54 BST
25 April - 6 May 2018
Actual-Grand Large Emotion - Nice UltiMed 2018 © Morgan BOVE / ASO
Late this Wednesday, Yves Le Blévec called Race Management for the Nice UltiMed to inform them of rig damage (broken hydraulic ram) aboard Actual-Grand Large Emotion. During a change of tack, the mast shifted to leeward and the crew realised that the ram controlling the system was no longer fulfilling its role.
The trimaran was sailing 1.5 miles to the North-East of the Saint Tropez headland at the time in a 6 to 8-knot SW'ly wind on flat seas. Having secured the rig, Yves Le Blévec and his crew made the decision to retrace their steps and retire from the Nice UltiMed. Indeed, given the damage and the weather conditions expected for the next stage of the course (30 to 35 knots of breeze, gusting to 45 knots), the skipper deemed it impossible to continue racing without jeopardising the integrity of the boat and her crew.
Impossible to miss the Nice UltiMed
It's worth remembering that Yves Le Blévec lost his Ultime Actual on 14 December 2017, offshore of Cape Horn, during his westabout round the world record attempt. Despite this misfortune, he kept his promise to participate in the Nice UltiMed and launched into a race against the clock to locate a boat that was available for the event. He finally opted for the ex-Gitana 11, which notably won the Route du Rhum 2006. Renamed "Actual-Grand Large Emotion" for the Nice UltiMed, this trimaran excelled in the light airs, dominating the Sud Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region Prologue and the Exhibition Run.
A duel at the summit
This evening, the Nice UltiMed has turned into a duel at the summit between the Ultimes skippered by Francis Joyon (IDEC SPORT) and Thomas Coville (Sodebo Ultim'), two maxi trimarans with similar performances and honed crewed. At 7:00pm, the boats were within a mile of one another. Tonight, they'll likely round the first waypoint off Marseille (Sud-Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region Mark). At that point, conditions are set to become increasingly lively with the 300 miles separating Marseille and the South of Sardinia shaping up to be very quick with the two Ultimes likely to rack up average speeds of around 30 knots (55 km/hr) in heavy and short seas.
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