Transat Jacques Vabre update, Newsflash MOD70 Edmond de Rothschild has finished with a convincing victory over Oman Air Musandam

The MOD70 Edmond de Rothschild team of Sebastian Josse and Charles Caudrelier  has taken out the victory in the MOD70 class in the 2013 Transat Jacques Vabre.

An official article has been posted on the Transat Jacques Vabre website:

http://www.transat-jacques-vabre.com/en/edmond-de-rothschild-first-itajai

And a rundown of the race from the team on Edmond de Rothschild:

http://www.transat-jacques-vabre.com/en/masters-mod70

MOD 70: Edmond de Rothschild vainqueur Transat... by TransatJacquesVabre

Transat Jacques Vabre update, Leading MOD70 Edmond de Rothschild still in control with less than 90 miles to finish

From the following update on the Transat Jacques Vabre website:

http://www.transat-jacques-vabre.com/en/still-control

With under 90 miles to go Edmond de Rothschild are still firmly in control of the MOD70s, Oman Air Musandam remain around 70 miles behind and have been slightly slowed on the midmorrning ranking. But it remains incredibly close in the IMOCA Open 60s where MACIF have a very very small lead over PRB as they match race side by side towards the island of Fernando de Noronha 225 miles ahead, racing in the SE'ly trades.

The tracker is here:

http://tracking.transat-jacques-vabre.com/fr/

MOD70 trimaran Edmond de Rothschild

Transat Jacques Vabre update, Oman Air-Musandam make some tactical decisions to close gap on leading MOD70 Edmond de Rothschild

From the following article on bymnews.com

 

http://bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=125301

 

As Sidney Gavignet, Oman Air-Musandam’s French skipper and Damian Foxall, his co skipper from Ireland, reach the Doldrums and the halfway mark of this epic 5,450nm race after just six days at sea; they face some big decisions.

Sitting just 70nm behind the other MOD70, Edmond de Rothschild, the pair is dedicated to maintaining boat speed and making up the distance. They are taking turns on the helm to keep the boat ‘flying’ as Sidney describes: “We don’t have capsize concerns at the moment, nor much adrenaline, the current conditions mean we are completely engaged in the pursuit of speed, we need to keep the boat flying at all times and to keep the centre hull out of the water to reduce drag and increase speed. It takes a lot of concentration,” he described via an email sent overnight.

When we spoke to Damian Foxall at dawn, the boat speed was high at 25 knots in 20-25 knots of wind and the pair had 200nm to go until the Doldrums.

 

read more here

Transat Jacques Vabre, MOD70 crews prepare to go head to head across the Atlantic

From the following article on bymnews:

 

http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=124728

 

Two identical MOD70’s go head to head across the Atlantic in what promises to be a mouth watering match race on this Transat Jacques Vabre. The two duos, Sidney Gavignet and Damian Foxall on Oman Air-Musandam and Sébastien Josse and Charles Caudrelier are all long-time friends, some former crewmates together on different ocean races, occasional sparring and training partners, but from the start gun of this Transat Jacques Vabre, no quarter will be given, they are hard bitten rivals all with the same drive and desire to get to Itajaí first. For the MOD70’s, this time, there is no second place.

The biggest challenge: to sail double handed on the MOD70
The two teams have worked with each other to make small technical changes to make the identical racing machines, which are designed for crewed racing, suitable for double handed racing. These changes include autopilots, anti capsize systems which release the sheets at a certain heel angle and rear ballast tanks. But the teams know only too well that two MOD70’s have already capsized this season on relatively inshore waters, and indeed three of the four skippers have experienced their own flavour of disappointment and disaster on this often cruel Transatlantic race, and so their determined drive will be tempered with ample caution at times.

 

read more here