Transat Jacques Vabre update, fleet takes a pounding MOD70's clear of the worst of the weather Multi50's taking the brunt of the conditions

From the following article on the Transat Jacques Vabre website:

http://www.transat-jacques-vabre.com/en/full-frontal-attack

For a few hours in particular today the middle of the Bay of Biscay will be an unforgiving section of the 5450 miles race course for the Transat Jacques Vabre race from Le Havre to Itajaí, Brasil.

The Multi 50’s were bearing the brunt of the passage of a low pressure trough which was producing violent squalls and big, messy seas. In fact the IMOCA Open 60’s go slightly better in these conditions, while the two MOD70’s are well clear of the worst of the weather and making good speeds after Cape Finisterre and now off the Iberian peninsula.

The poor conditions will last until Sunday for the Multi50s and IMOCA Open 60s as this deep low pressure which has emanated from Newfoundland and is tracking quickly makes life very testing for the Multi50s especially. This is exacerbated by the wind shifts between SW and W with more than 30kts average and much more in the gusts, the crossed seas make it very bouncy and unpleasant for the multihulls.

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