Globe40 prologue: the horses are unleashed

Credit Mutuel © Jean-Marie Liot / Globe40

There comes a time when a sailor must go at sea, and that time has arrived for the nine Class40 crews in the prologue of the 2nd edition of the GLOBE40.

This came after a long wait in Lorient during which low-pressure systems followed one another at a pace reminiscent of the traditional winter transatlantic race starts. This Thursday, September 4, under the Coureaux de Groix, the "round-the-world sailors" set off toward the beautiful Cadiz, which eagerly awaits them after a 900-mile prologue that will count toward the rankings for this edition.

During this launch week in Lorient, emotions were divided between the desire to finally see the dream of a round-the-world race take shape with a first start and the necessary caution of the skippers and the organization in the face of exceptionally harsh wind and sea conditions in the Bay of Biscay. There's no point writing long theses on climate change when we're witnessing this phenomenon in August, with two hurricanes ending their days on European shores.

This week, which became 10 days in Lorient, was rich in encounters among the crews after one or two years of preparation for each project. The organization, for its part, found its feet with a series of technical checks and briefings of all kinds to place the adventure, above all, within a rigorous technical and regulatory framework. The "sailing valley" also offered a wealth of expertise, and as with the first edition, the Lorient Metropolitan Area and its president, Fabrice Loher, provided a perfect setting to prepare for the big race.

The 900-mile prologue, crossing the Gulf of Cascoña, Cape Finisterre, descending along the Spanish and Portuguese coasts, Cape St. Vincent, and finishing in the Bay of Cadiz, will be far from a walk in the park, as everyone already knows that crucial points can be won or lost; remembering the ranking of the inaugural edition, where only two points separated the winner from their closest rival, with victory secured in the final leg.

Cadiz eagerly awaits its competitors on the evening of Monday, September 8th, and probably during the night of the 8th to the 9th. This first encounter with a major ocean racing event is a highlight for the city authorities and its mayor, Bruno Garcia; the chosen location is innovative, with a large 300-meter quay on the Astilleros dock near the city center, where a temporary port has been set up. A very robust entertainment program has been prepared to make it a major, popular event in the tradition of French ocean racing. As for the oldest city in Western Europe, it will undoubtedly offer the well-known Andalusian welcome and warmth in its maze of narrow streets and superb monuments.

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