Right hand turn

Challenging 48 hours ahead for the Transat B to B singlehanded IMOCA 60s

Chart above courtesy of Expedition/Tasman Bay Navigation Systems and PredictWind

Positions at 1130

The Transat B to B IMOCA 60s have finally begun to turn their bows east as they round the southwestern extremity of the giant lobe of high pressure extending from their position for than 1,000 miles to their northeast. At present the westerly group of boats are just 70 miles due east of Bermuda. They have been making their turn as the wind as continued to veer into the south.

However the latest forecast indicates that the singlehanded 60s aren't out of the woods yet. While the chart above makes it look quite straightforward - head north into the strong southwesterlies, rocket across the Atlantic and home - in fact the promising-looking depression currently over Nova Scotia is rocketing off to the northeast to be replaced by a fresh area of high pressure emanating from the eastern seaboard of the States around Connecticut by tomorrow morning. This will mean that no matter where east they point their bows they will be either upwind or in no wind. This new area of high pressure is forecast to merge with the high currently to the northeast of the boats come Saturday morning and only then will the express ride back to Europe properly begin.

Within the fleet at the moment Armel le Cleac'h on Banque Populaire has taken the lead, but this is only slender ahead of Virbac-Paprec 3 and MACIF, both some 50 miles to Banque Pop's northwest. Given the forecast ahead it is anyone's guess how this will be pan out over the next 48 hours before the drag racing begins.