In a north-north-westerly breeze the fleet got a clean start, well spread across the length of the line. Foncia and Groupe Bel each got off with pace to pull away into the lead, while Gaes Centros Auditivos got a good start at the inshore end of the line. President and Virbac-Paprec 3 close behind, Mirabaud was late to the starting area.
Foncia and Groupe Bel duelling hard on their way to the North Buoy in patchy conditions with a slightly sloppy sea state created by the wash from hundreds of specator boats – unsurprising as Groupe Bel measured fastest during speed tests in the Istanbul Europa Race in similar conditions before the newest IMOCA 60s in the fleet were built, whilst Michel Desjoyeaux has made no secret of his hunt for weight savings.
Forum Maritim Catala, a 10-year-old design formerly known as Kingfisher, showed impressive speed in the early stages, follwed by the Owen-Clarke sistership designs of President and Gaes Centros Auditivos.
Located three miles from the starting line, the 14 monohulls passed the mark down their starboard side in a light north-north-eastly wind of around 5 to 6 knots. The running order around the first mark was:
1 – Groupe Bel (12: 21: 25)
2 – Foncia (12: 22: 48)
3 – Centros Gaes Auditivos (12: 26: 34)
4 – Forum Maritim Catala
5 – President
6 – Virbac-Paprec 3
7 – Renault ZE
8 – Mapfre
9 – Central Asturiana Lechera
10 – Neutrogena
11 – Estrella Damm
12 – Mirabaud
13 – Hugo Boss
14 – We Are The Water
Only 25,000 miles, give or take, to go !!
