2010/05/03

Departure on Wednesday the 5th of May.


Denis Hughes, Race Director: "The adjournment is due to the weather forecast. The wind is relatively strong in the area, especially during Tuesday to Wednesday's night, with gusts over 40 knots and troughs of over 3 meters. The situation should get better the next day. We, thus, decided to postpone the start by 24 hours. The safety rules prevail at first but there are also some sailors who will live their first offshore regatta. And it was not reasonable to leave them in such an awkward position when they already have to get used to a new sleep rhythm, to feed, hydrate themselves properly... This race is already a great school of sailing and there was no need to complicate it.”

Eric Mas, Météo Consult: “A 1035 hPa high pressure off Ireland and 990 hPa low pressure in the Mediterranean sea, rising back slowly from the Balearic Islands generate a strong northerly stream over the Bay of Biscay. The dense cold air caused by the stream is particularly unstable. Thus, the gusts are violent and the waves rise rapidly. Off La Rochelle, there is NNE wind force 6-7 gusting to 35 knots in the afternoon. The significant wave height is estimated at 3 meters. Visibility is good, except in the squalls. The situation practically does not change overnight.”