Tacks and gybes follow one another in the Mediterranean humidity, while fatigue begins to make itself felt among the crew: "It's very, very hot in the boat. We're trying to rest as soon as possible, the rotations are working well, but we're not sleeping well. Sleeping in an oven at 40°C isn't easy. We're starting to get pretty burnt out, but we know when it's going to end, so we can give it our all right up to the end."
Alan, Conrad, Bex and Mathis are giving up absolutely nothing, and are continuing to discover each other, in good spirits, with performance at their heart, and with a more than promising start to the race: "On board, it's fluid and pleasant, and we're exchanging a lot about the situation and the settings. Let's not forget that our first tack together was on the starting line! And as for our first gybe, that was last night! It's amazing what we can do together in such a short time, and we can't wait to see what we can do with a little practice.
Since this morning, more established winds have enabled the black and blue IMOCA to make better speed towards the virtual course marker “Charlie”, off Porquerolles, while a stormy low-pressure system from the south remains on everyone's minds.
Objective: to get closer to the Canadians, arrive with a smile on their faces, a clean track and as few navigational errors as possible. "We're here to race and we've seen that we're able to play according to the conditions. The end of the course is less beneficial to our little foils, but we're not giving up. And I think people can tell."
Picture © Adrien Cordier / Air Vide et Eau Productions