After a change of course, the Vendée Arctic race is finally “neutralised”. Race management announced this decision early on Friday morning. A choice motivated by very difficult weather conditions for the skippers who were in the lead, due to a violent atmospheric depression on their route.
Safety first
An obvious decision for organizers who want absolutely protect the 25 skippers involved. “Our duty has always been to ensure the safety of sailors and to guard against all possible risks, explains Alain Leboeuf, President of SAEM Vendée and the Department of Vendée. The evolution of the weather situation facing the fleet obliges us, together with the race management and our meteorological expert, to make strong decisions.”
“We are expecting strong winds of 35 to 40 knots, _so gusts over 50 knots_, said race director Francis Le Goff. For the sake of fair play and equity, we have therefore decided that the skippers can take shelter as soon as they have passed the gate located in the south-east of Iceland.
At this stop, race times will be recorded before the skippers take shelter. Discussions are open with neighboring ports so that the monohulls can be protected from the weather. “The race will then resume according to the terms that we are in the process of defining. abounds Francis Le Goff.