Normandy Channel Race weather briefing

Normandy Channel Race 2018 before the start © Jean-Marie Liot

With a record number of Class40s, a line-up hitherto unequalled and a weather forecast that would suggest an unusually languid pace, this 2018 edition of the Normandy Channel Race may well be the most striking in its young history. Never before has the weather briefing gathered together so many 'big guns' from offshore sailing since the event was launched back in 2010.

Added to the usual clutch of Figaro sailors, who are always partial to exchanging their one-designs for a Class40, are sailors from the cut and thrust of the Volvo Ocean Race and even the Vendée Globe. All of them admit with real sincerity that their presence in Caen is the fruit of a very professional desire to try their hand at the unique and surprisingly demanding exercise of a double-handed sprint around an exceptional nautical stadium, whose outer limits are bounded by the shores of Normandy, England and Ireland.

With the forecast predicting particularly light airs at start time tomorrow at 12:30 GMT, the 27 duos will immediately be plunged into an evanescent, shifty breeze, which will very quickly be accompanied by the effects of the current so typical of the Baie de Seine. Technique, strategy, concentration... and a bit of luck will be crucial to the success of the first hours of racing...

David Lasnier is the weather consultant for the race. This morning, he gave the 54 competitors in the Normandy Channel Race the low-down on what to expect from tomorrow:

"The start sector for the Normandy Channel Race, off Ouistreham, will be up against the double whammy of a low pressure system centred over the Bay of Biscay and a high pressure undulation parked up in the middle of the English Channel. These two systems means that the passage of a gentle N'ly breeze is possible on the start line tomorrow, Sunday, at 12:30 GMT. As such, the racers will have to keep an eye on both phenomena as either the thick cloud cover will persist, which could block the arrival of this N'ly breeze, or a thermal breeze may kick in caused by the nearby land warming up. However things play out, the competitors should be able to make headway in a N to NE'ly breeze of around 6 to 10 knots. As the race gets going, the Class40s will be influenced by the current along the coast created by the tide and notably the waters of the Seine emptying out into the bay. The tide will turn at 15:30 GMT. Initial routing gives a finish on Friday at best, after 5 days of racing, or next Sunday at the latest. The Channel Crossing promises to be very slow, prior to a slight acceleration towards the south-west tip of England beam onto a NE'ly wind, followed by a beat up to Tuskar in around fifteen knots of breeze."

Normandy Channel Race trophy - photo © Jean-Marie Liot

Quotes from the boats:

Sébastien Marsset - Tohapi:
"Though my ultimate aim is the Route du Rhum, I'm approaching this Normandy Channel Race as a notable event in its own right. Jean-Luc Nélias, with his massive amount of experience, shares my mindset. He's enjoying discovering the Class40 and he's very involved in this race. We're really going to work as a pair, with Jean-Luc's mission certainly more geared around the navigation. My focus will be the big manoeuvres, which I'm handling pretty well so far. We'll be setting sail in some very light airs, which aren't exactly what the boat excels in. As a result, this race will enable us to reach new heights in the development of the boat. In any case, we'll be setting off tomorrow feeling very calm and confident and very happy to be sailing in the marine landscapes that inspire us, offshore of Ireland in particular..."

Loïc Féquet - Talès II:
"We're continuing our apprenticeship on this boat, which won the race in style in 2016. I'm very happy to have made the switch to this highly competitive class after my years on the Multi50. We're expecting a great battle and we'll be ready to snap up every opportunity that comes our way..."

Romain Rossi - Fondation Digestscience:
"Sylvain (Pontu) and I will be setting sail with a great desire to share our adventure. We've spent the week moored less than two metres away from Vincent Riou, winner of the Vendée Globe! Sylvain and I are just discovering the event and the atmosphere is very friendly. We'll be heading off very focused tomorrow. We'd have preferred a little more wind at the start. We'll have to avoid falling off the pace too early in the light airs..."

Hervé Gautier, Race Director:
"We're expecting a very uncertain 2018 edition, meaning it'll likely be full of meteorological pitfalls. Accompanied by the President of the Race Committee, Patrick Perrault, and the Organiser Manfred Ramspacher, we'll only decide on the definitive course, for the first section at least, at the last minute tomorrow. Indeed, the Sailing Instructions enable us to modify the route according to the weather conditions on site. For example, if it looks likely that the racers will take a long time to get out of the Baie de Seine, we can remove the section to the Saint Marcouf Islands and send the boats straight towards England and the Isle of Wight. In any case, we're going to set a long start line with a view to either a short show lap, or a single windward mark to be rounded before the fleet heads offshore..."