Alan Roura took the start of his first race on board his new IMOCA Hublot, this Sunday 8th May. After leaving at 2:40 pm in the bay of Brest, the fleet of the Guyader Bermudes 1 000 Race will soon have to deal with complicated, unstable weather conditions. The Swiss skipper’s goal: to validate his first solo experience on board and his first racing miles, necessary to take part in the 2024 Vendée Globe.
It was in mild winds, so much so that the start was delayed by 40 minutes, that Alan Roura set off for his first solo regatta since he finished the Vendée Globe in February 2021. A first also on board his boat Hublot, which he preferred to tackle cautiously and wisely. The Swiss man announced this morning, before leaving the pontoons in Brest, that he didn’t want to take any risks at the helm of his boat that has an entirely closed cockpit and highly reduced visibility: “Alex Thomson reminded me last night to be careful during start stages and that was my intention too!”
In westerly winds of 6 to 8 knots, the IMOCA Hublot took a cautious start, in the second part of the fleet, heading for the Fastnet rock, with a real weather forecast conundrum to solve throughout the race. “The race is likely to be strategic from the start with a first windless part to go through just 2 miles after the start,” explained Alan before casting off. “The situation should then grow more stable up to the south of Ireland, with a tricky phase with moderate headwinds, not too favourable for my boat. The wind will pick up gradually to reach about forty knots around the Fastnet. The pattern for the next phase remains uncertain, with a low-pressure system to watch out for, likely to grow more intense on our route.” Although the pressure rose this morning, with the start approaching, the 29-year-old sailor kept his goals simple: “To sail neatly, make the right choices, try things out and play along with the boats nearby as much as possible”. Arrivals are expected at the end of next week, after 1,200 miles of solo sailing.
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Photo © Christophe Breschi / Hublot