The first hours of navigation of the Transat CIC saw minimal gaps, great concentration and the arrival of the first disturbance, which immediately put the Class40s to the test, thus confirming the skippers’ great competitiveness, as well as their ability to stay glued to each other. Everyone was ready for the low which is currently affecting the crews and which will increase in intensity, with winds of up to 35 knots and a swell, as the boats get closer to the South of Ireland. Today at 1:00 pm Alberto Bona aboard the Class40 IBSA was in fourth position, a short distance behind the Class40 Café Joyeux, which appears more and more determined to maintain first place.
After leaving the Breton coast yesterday evening, the Class40 IBSA entered into a very favourable tack away from the continent, before turning again and pointing her bow towards the South of Ireland, to find the first depression at the exit of the Channel. The stronger wind and a beam reach favoured Alberto, who moved up to fourth place, allowing the Class40 IBSA to express high average speeds. The next few hours will be very important to gain an advantage over the boats that follow and erode the five miles from the leader. In particular, the next manoeuver that the skippers will carry out in the centre of the low to set off towards the United States will be very strategic. Finding the right moment with respect to the rotation of the wind and the position of the opponents could indeed provide a significant advantage already in these initial phases of the regatta. After the first disturbance, the Atlantic will give a few hours of respite to navigators, who on Wednesday should however already encounter a second depression, which will allow high speed averages.
