Guyader Bermuda 1000 Race Begins In Earnest

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The serious things begin!










This Sunday, May 8, at 2:40 p.m., with a slight delay on the scheduled time, the start of the 3 rd edition of the Guyader Bermuda 1000 Race was given off Brest. The 24 sailors in the IMOCA class taking part in the event then set off gently, propelled by a westerly breeze blowing between 6 and 8 knots. An erratic wind which will greatly complicate the situation for the solo sailors over the first few miles of the race and will force them to multiply their maneuvers between now and the passage of the Trophe Departement Finistere waypoint, which the first should overflow in the middle of next night. In this context, surprises cannot be ruled out. The daggerboard boats could, in any case, hold out for the foilers!


"The start should be quite complicated with a light wind and very unstable in direction", announced Christian Dumard yesterday. The weather consultant for the Guyader Bermuda 1000 Race was certainly not mistaken in his predictions. The race committee was initially forced to delay the procedure before finally launching the start (English style) at the beginning of the afternoon, 40 minutes behind the initially scheduled time. Although Louis Burton (Bureau Valle), positioned at the end of the line, was undoubtedly the quickest to leave, it was in close ranks that the fleet overran Pointe Saint-Mathieu before heading straight for the broad, in the direction of the virtual mark Trophe Departement Finistre, located 100 miles to the west.

“This first leg will remain quite soft and therefore a bit difficult. The choice of sails will be preponderant. It might be a bit of a puzzle, with a certain amount of randomness. The goal will be, despite everything, to succeed in settling at the forefront quickly or, at the very least, to manage to stay focused to make the copy as clean as possible. We know that alone, it's always the one who does less mischief than the others who comes out ahead. In this case, we know that on this course, with the announced conditions, there is likely to be a lot to commit, ”commented Jeremie Beyou (Charal).


A varied and technical menu
An opinion fully shared by Louis Burton who also expects a race that is intense, complete and tricky. “A priori, we are going to pass all the sails on board. This promises sport but also a lot of tactics, with transitions that are not always going to be simple, "detailed the Malouin, then putting his finger on the many weather uncertainties remaining, for the time being, on the first miles of the course, but also on the last ones, in particular after passing the Gallimard waypoint located northwest of Cape Finisterre.

“When the situation is not yet very clear two or three days from now, we know that a lot of things are bound to happen on the water. It's going to be exciting and I think there's going to be something for all boats, with or without foils. We will be able to validate a lot of things, ” added the skipper of Bureau Valle. Endorsing the work carried out this winter and then fine-tuning the job-lists at the end of the event are clearly objectives for the vast majority of competitors in this Guyader Bermuda 1000 Race, the first of the four events on the 2022 calendar of the IMOCA Globes Series. .



Uncertainty in the air
“We will be able to make an initial inventory of the preparations of the different boats and see how each one is doing. The route as well as the conditions will be perfect for learning lessons since we will really have everything: softness, breeze, transitions, ridges, passages of fronts… in short, a complete panel ? , said Thomas Ruyant (Linkeout) for his part. In this context, downtime is likely to be relatively rare. "We'll have to manage to get some sleep between all that. It's not going to be easy. The goal of the game will be not to burn yourself out from the start and then to keep lucidity until the end because on the second half of the course we do not yet know what sauce we are going to be eaten, ”continued the northerner. . In fact, if the situation seems rather clear on the ascent to the Fastnet, with steady wind and even a little brisk approaching the famous Irish lighthouse, the rest lacks a bit of visibility. In question, a fairly active front and a host of small secondary depressions whose evolutions are still far from being stalled. What is confirmed however, are the arrivals in Brest of the first boats on Thursday at the end of the day. To be continued then.






They said:

Nicolas Troussel (Corum L'Epargne): “We launched not very long ago. This Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race is a great first this year. It is sure that there is a little stress before leaving. We will have to be well concentrated to get into the game well and not make too many mistakes. The start will be a bit complicated, with not much wind. We are going to meet all the conditions. We will therefore have to be a little vigilant and go quickly at the right times. Passages will surely be a little complicated and there will be a lot of maneuvers on the program. The goal is above all to do a complete race, being well on board and continuing to progress. The main thing is really to succeed in doing things well. For the result, we will see as the race progresses. ?


?ric Bellion (Commeunseulhomme Powered by Atlavia) : “I'm happy to be back in IMOCA. The feelings are a bit mixed. I am very happy and at the same time hyper-focused. I have a good boat, with a good team. I came back because it made me happy and now I want to do well. I think we're gonna really have fun. With our daggerboard boats, we will be able to play a little in light conditions. That's pretty cool. It's not like the foilers are going to drop us off. For my part, I will do what I am able to do. I don't put any particular pressure on myself. I want to be proud at the end. For that, I want to finish the race, get my confidence back on a progression curve. ?


Arnaud Boissires (La Mie C'line)“We haven't sailed much yet but the boat is ready. Now, you have to go there and then show that he is fine and that I can be up to him. The course ahead of us is super technical and the conditions promise to be varied. I think we'll arrive very tired after four days, but it's great. We are there for that, to confront others and see what we have in our stomachs. We will have to manage to extricate ourselves from the light airs at the start. The current may help us a little at first. We will have to choose the right sail but in any case, for my part, I will try not to put myself in the red. I want to do well. If I don't walk well, it will only be my fault, not the boat's. It puts a little pressure on me, of course, but I can't wait to go! ?





Words from the partners

M?lanie Kerguenou, Director of the Bermudes brand : “We are very happy to participate in the dynamics of a sport to which we are very close, but also in the dynamics of a territory. We know how present and driving force the Armor-lux group is in Finist?re and Brittany. We
are also very proud to be associated with the IMOCA class, a class whose values of performance, technicality and environmental responsibility we share, since in our field of textiles, we are committed to limiting the carbon impact. We wish all the sailors a great race. We are delighted with the crazy show that awaits us, with a considerable line-up. Glad also that the race is getting so big. ?


Christian Guyader, President of Guyader Gastronomie : “For this third edition of the Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race, we were expecting to welcome a very nice line-up since, as we know, the mile race for the Vend?e Globe has already started. The 24 sailors in the running are very happy to reconnect with competition but also with solo sailing. The formula, which mixes both speed runs and a long race of 1,200 miles, appeals. The conditions promise to be rich and varied. We can expect a very good race. These next four days are going to be intense for the sailors and thrilling for the earthlings! ?



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Words from the edge 09/05
WORDS FROM THE BOARD – “The first night was hard”

Little wind, fog and traffic to watch out for… The first night of racing was not easy for the skippers of the fleet. Damien Seguin, Arnaud Boissieres and Giancarlo Pedote told it in the early morning.

Damien Seguin (APICIL Group): "I'm off to a good start"

“I haven't slept much, like the rest of the fleet. The passage of the Finistere Department waypoint took place with a lot of calm. We had to be vigilant, especially since there was a lot of cargo. It was an atypical night with little wind but a lot of mist. This morning, it cleared up a bit and we are waiting for the wind to pick up. I'm pretty happy with my night. Overall, I'm in the right group, well placed. We are waiting for the continuation with the rise of the Fastnet where the wind will increase more and more. So far so good, I've slept 3 to 4 times for 20 minutes!


Arnaud Boissieres (La Mie Caline): “you can see the dolphins”

“At daybreak, the lingering mist of the night dissipated. Suddenly, we can see the boats around and the dolphins! The night was long and difficult. I found myself sailing upwind for 4 hours to pass the mark (Trophee Departement Finistere). There, the boat moves forward on its own, which is conducive to trying to do a 'mini dodo'. All is well on board: I am having fun with this marvelous boat! ?


Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian Group): “we quickly find our automatisms”

“The conditions to come will be winds from the South-West which will increase, in particular up to the Fastnet. It will involve sail changes. You will have to position yourself well to leave the DST of the Fastnet to port and pass the Fastnet. There, we are preparing for a big edge of speed. The first night was hard because the wind kept moving. I hardly slept. I slept for about 20 minutes and came back on deck because I want to catch up with Nico (Lunven) who took me a few miles in the soft phase. In any case, I made a good approach to the 'way point'. We quickly find our automatisms, I have great feelings and it's nice to find the 'solo'! "
Benjamin Ferre (Benjamin sends the glitch):

"It's party time aboard Theophile!" This first night was exhausting to say the least. Like what, in a mini or an IMOCA, the calm is not joy! I made a big mistake with my spinnaker which really burned me from the start and caused me to lose the bunch of boats I was in… but I'm learning! “A successful maneuver is a carefree maneuver” repeats Jean le Cam to me… well there is still a bit of work to do! I'm super happy to be at sea and I don't forget that the goal is to finish the race. ?



Nicolas Lunven (Popular Bank):

“Fabulous start yesterday, with a bit of wind and bright sunshine! Things were well organized! The wind picked up nicely, moving away from the coast and then easing off in the evening. The night was soft, with shifts in the wind, not easy to get around the Department Finistere waypoint! I'm pretty happy with what I did and I did well. Since this morning, the wind has gradually returned from the south-westerly sector. I was able to rest a bit and snack. The next few hours promise to be sporty for climbing to the Fastnet and I'm starting to see the foilers at the AIS melting down on me.... I'm going to have to stay calm! ?

Flash news 09/05
Large gennaker hook problem for Manuel Cousin

While sailing downwind some sixty miles west of the DTS at Ouessant, Manuel Cousin was faced with problems with a large gennaker hook. The skipper of Groupe Setin, who is doing everything to solve his problem, is currently posting a very dejected trajectory but will resume his normal course as soon as possible.
Words from the edge 09/05
WORDS FROM THE BOARD – “The first night was hard”



Little wind, fog and traffic to watch out for… The first night of racing was not easy for the skippers of the fleet. Damien Seguin, Arnaud Boissieres and Giancarlo Pedote told it in the early morning.


Damien Seguin (APICIL Group): "I'm off to a good start"

“I haven't slept much, like the rest of the fleet. The passage of the Finistere Department waypoint took place with a lot of calm. We had to be vigilant, especially since there was a lot of cargo. It was an atypical night with little wind but a lot of mist. This morning, it cleared up a bit and we are waiting for the wind to pick up. I'm pretty happy with my night. Overall, I'm in the right group, well placed. We are waiting for the continuation with the rise of the Fastnet where the wind will increase more and more. So far so good, I've slept 3 to 4 times for 20 minutes!



Arnaud Boissieres (La Mie C?line): “you can see the dolphins”

“At daybreak, the lingering mist of the night dissipated. Suddenly, we can see the boats around and the dolphins! The night was long and difficult. I found myself sailing upwind for 4 hours to pass the mark (Trophee Department Finistere). There, the boat moves forward on its own, which is conducive to trying to do a 'mini dodo'. All is well on board: I am having fun with this marvelous boat! ?



Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian Group): “we quickly find our automatisms”

“The conditions to come will be winds from the South-West which will increase, in particular up to the Fastnet. It will involve sail changes. You will have to position yourself well to leave the DST of the Fastnet to port and pass the Fastnet. There, we are preparing for a big edge of speed. The first night was hard because the wind kept moving. I hardly slept. I slept for about 20 minutes and came back on deck because I want to catch up with Nico (Lunven) who took me a few miles in the soft phase. In any case, I made a good approach to the 'way point'. We quickly find our automatisms, I have great feelings and it's nice to find the 'solo'! ?



Benjamin Ferr? (Benjamin sends the glitch):

"It's party time aboard Theophile!" This first night was exhausting to say the least. Like what, in a mini or an IMOCA, the calm is not joy! I made a big mistake with my spinnaker which really burned me from the start and caused me to lose the bunch of boats I was in… but I'm learning! “A successful maneuver is a carefree maneuver” repeats Jean le Cam to me… well there is still a bit of work to do! I'm super happy to be at sea and I don't forget that the goal is to finish the race. ?



Nicolas Lunven (Popular Bank):

“Fabulous start yesterday, with a bit of wind and bright sunshine! Things were well organized! The wind picked up nicely, moving away from the coast and then easing off in the evening. The night was soft, with shifts in the wind, not easy to get around the Department Finistere waypoint! I'm pretty happy with what I did and I did well. Since this morning, the wind has gradually returned from the south-westerly sector. I was able to rest a bit and snack. The next few hours promise to be sporty for climbing to the Fastnet and I'm starting to see the foilers at the AIS melting down on me.... I'm going to have to stay calm! ?


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IT’S DALIN LEADING THE ‘USUAL SUSPECTS’ AFTER TWO DAYS IN THE GUYADER BERMUDES 1000 RACE


After two days at sea in the Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race, the IMOCA fleet is now heading south-southwest on a starboard reach towards the Gallimard Waypoint situated about 250 nautical miles west-northwest of Cape Finisterre.





Not for the first time in recent races, the leader, who has dominated from the start off Brest on Sunday, is the APIVIA skipper Charlie Dalin. The Frenchman from Le Havre has been fighting hard to stay ahead of his old rivals and fellow countrymen Jeremie Beyou on Charal and Thomas Ruyant on LinkedOut.

The 38-year-old Dalin was in great from when contacted by the IMOCA Class today, joking that the “usual suspects” were back in front of this early season 1,200-mile sprint race – a reference to the tight competition he is enjoying with Beyou and Ruyant.

“With Thomas and Jeremie, it’s like the ‘usual suspects’, I would say,”he said from the cockpit of APIVIA, as she surfed south-southwest, at a position about 225 miles north-northwest of the Gallimard turning mark. “We’ve been battling together since the Vendee Arctique in 2020; it was a three-way battle in that race, the same in the Transat Jacques Vabre last year and here we go again this year."

“The three of us have competitive boats so we know them well, it being the fourth year that we are sailing these boats for each of us,” he added. “We have boats that are performing well allied with our experience sailing on them, so it makes sense.”

One of the hallmarks of Dalin’s dominance in the IMOCA fleet has been his excellent race starts and this race has been no exception, as he dominated from the beginning in light airs on Sunday. “I am happy with my start because it’s important to have clear air at the beginning in order to be in the leading group at the first waypoint. Afterwards we sailed in new pressure which did not really move towards us, so it was important to be where I was to extend the lead. In this new breeze we kept on extending and gaining into new pressure,” he explained.

Dalin said conditions deteriorated as he approached the Fastnet Rock close to the Irish coast in big breeze and rough seas. “It was pretty brutal arriving at the Fastnet. I saw close to 30 knots of wind and big gusts,” he said. “It was not very comfortable on board, but I kept pushing because I know it’s the only way to keep the lead and I tried to keep as much sail area as possible for the longest time.”

Behind APIVIA the fleet is spread over 250 miles of ocean. Beyou and Ruyant have dropped back but are now locked in a thrilling battle for second place, just a couple of miles apart and about 40 miles behind the leader. Then there is a gap of around another 40 miles to Louis Burton in Bureau Valle'e in fourth place, who has posted some good video of his boat powered up in big breeze on the way to the Fastnet.







In fifth place, but very closely followed by Benjamin Dutreux on GUYOT Environment-Water Family and Isabelle Joschke on MACSF, is one of the standout performers of the race so far – Nicolas Lunven on Banque Populaire, the first non-foiling boat in the ranking. Lunven, who has taken up the role in place of Clarisse Cremer who is expecting a baby, had been holding fourth position throughout the early stages.

Another strong non-foiling performer has been the American/New Zealand skipper Conrad Colman who has produced an excellent showing so far on his return to the class, in tenth place on board Imagine, the former V and B-Mayenne. This display will no doubt help him in his search for a title sponsor as he aims for the next Vendee Globe.

Just ahead of Colman is the Italian skipper Giancarlo Pedote on his newly-modified Prysmian Group, a 2015 Verdier design that now has a re-modelled bow section. “The race is going pretty well for us – we made a great start,”said 46-year-old Pedote, who is originally from Florence. “And it was nice to stay in the front of the group for the first part, until the Fastnet. Then the boats with the big foils took advantage as we expected.”







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Pedote is pleased with the way his yacht is performing. “I’m happy with my bow and with the work we did in the winter to make progress, to have a boat with more performance,” he said. “Everything is good on board and it is nice to race again in the Bermudes 1000.”

So far two skippers among the record 24 starters have dropped out. Weores Szabolcs retired early on Szabi Racing and, today, Nicolas Troussel is heading back to the French coast with keel problems on board CORUM L'Epargne.

Ed Gorman

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Last straight line for Charlie Dalin

While Charlie Dalin, the leader of the 3rd edition of the Guyader Bermuda 1000 Race, is now less than 100 miles from the finish, his ETA is still very imprecise since it is between 9 p.m. and midnight on Thursday. For the time being, the skipper of Apivia continues to maintain average speeds above 14 knots by knitting along the edge of the ridge which blocks the route of the fleet then the passage of the Gallimard waypoint, while playing the best with the small variations in the wind. Barring damage, nothing should, in principle, deprive him of victory. A victory that he should sign with nearly fifteen hours ahead of his runner-up, Jeremie Beyou (Charal) and more than 24 hours over the rest of the peloton!

“I'm happy to have found some south-westerly wind. This flow propels me quietly towards Brittany. Not quite towards Brest, but not far. It's nice, in any case, to move east! commented Charlie Dalin, who is flying to victory in this Guyader Bermuda 1000 Race. And for good reason, in the lead since the very first miles of the race, the skipper of Apivia has slowly but surely widened his lead to bring it to almost 130 miles. A quite exceptional gap over a race of 1,200 miles! And again, according to the latest routings, around fifteen hours should finally separate him from his closest pursuer, while we were still talking about a 24-hour gap this morning. " Jeremie Beyou managed to get out of the calm zone from the north. He should complete the course tomorrow afternoon ,” explained Christian Dumard, the event's weather consultant. This obviously sounds like very good news for the skipper of Charal who will therefore, except for a glitch, avoid a regrouping a few cables from the finish with the peloton located on the opposite side of the race zone, close to the Spanish coast. An option which is, for the time being, proving to be beneficial for the entire fleet, which is maintaining double-digit speeds this Thursday, after a delicate night, however, in the light airs. " From a progression point of view, it was a frustrating night. It was complicated to move the boat forward. After passing the Gallimard waypoint, I thought we were going to find some wind but the calm lasted forever, until sunrise,” confirmed S?bastien Marsset (Cap Agir Ensemble #SponsorsBienvenus).



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Vigilance setting off Spain

He and all of his adversaries who turned south yesterday are currently benefiting from a north-easterly wind blowing at around fifteen knots. All are progressing upwind towards La Coru?a and all have to be vigilant, on the one hand because the traffic is heavy around the Cape Finisterre DST, and on the other hand because the 24F flotilla based at Lann Bihou? located two areas of wood plank concentration that could prove hazardous to boat appendages. " It 's always a complicated place for navigation, especially as when approaching the coast, you also risk encountering fishermen who don't all turn on their AIS", commented Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian Group) who, like the others, will continue his route in the East before seeing the wind shift to the North and thus begin a long tacking to Brest. " There will be no options in the option ," said Hubert Lemonnier, Deputy Race Director.





Nicolas Lunven and his daggerboard boat on the podium?

Playing well with the small oscillations of the wind and optimizing your choice of sails will certainly be the keys to performance. “ The wind continues to rise gradually and turn to the right. We should tack in the night around the Spanish point, then go up towards the Brittany point, still close-hauled, on starboard tack. It's not the most fun look, but it's fun nonetheless. The weather is nice, it's not cold, the nights are great and I'm pretty happy with my race so far. Hope it lasts ! said Nicolas Lunven (Banque Populaire) who is currently in 4th position with his daggerboard boat, ten miles behind Louis Burton (Bureau Vallee) and three miles ahead of Isabelle Joschke (Team MACSF). It goes without saying that between these three, the fight has only just begun. At stake, third place on the podium. “ I didn't see myself as much in the match with all these beautiful boats around me, and especially all these maneuvers to be chained. It reminds me of the Solitaire du Figaro, this course and this rhythm! ?, indicated the Franco-German sailor who has certainly not said her last word, especially as she knows, behind, things are jostling at the gate!

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Words from the edge 05/12
Diverse fortunes on board for Sebastien Marsset, Antoine Cornic, Nicolas Lunven, Giancarlo Pedote and Denis Van Weynbergh. Everyone looks back on their progress - not always easy - over the past few hours...



S?bastien Marsset (Cap Agir Ensemble #SponsorsBienvenus): “It lasted forever”

“The night started yesterday with a magnificent sunset approaching the Gallimard waypoint. This crossing point was complicated to circumvent: it was placed exactly in a windless area, with a lot of sea (2.50 meters of swell). It was complicated to move the boat forward. Once we were able to head southeast with a jibe and were pushed by the swell, we were fine. I passed the waypoint being side by side with Alan Roura (Hublot). Then, I thought we were going to find some wind but it lasted forever, until sunrise. It finally settled down to 10 knots. From a progression point of view, it was a frustrating night. On the other hand, it was a night to watch the sky between the sunset and the stars partially hidden by the clouds. This morning, I have the impression that the weather is going to be beautiful! Now, heading to Spain. Everything is fine on board but I haven't looked at the rankings yet. ?



Antoine Cornic (EBAC Literie): "The impression of being on a Mini 6.50"

“I took this depression calmly to validate my new standing rigging with two reefs - J3. It was fine until my end of J2 broke in 35 knots of wind… It's not terrible but it tests the rig. Inevitably, it's less funny when there are slaps at 48 knots coming out of the front. Inside, I couldn't do anything but it passed. On the other hand, RAS on board. I just sent the code 0 80 miles from the Gallimard waypoint. I don't know where the others are – IT and I make two – so I almost feel like I'm on a Mini 6.50, with the emails added. The sun is back, it feels good. The wind will fall again and again (what a beautiful song by Francis Cabrel). In short, everything is fine on Ebac Literie. ?

“Here we are upwind, heading for Spain. I just imagine the face of a neophyte: he must say to himself that it's really stupid as a sport. Passing through Spain to go to Brest… I listened to live music by Pink Floyd for the first time. It wasn't bad . I'm starting to move on to another stage: I don't know what day it is anymore, or what time it is... I only live for the boat and me. I'm happy to be here and to celebrate, I'm going to make myself a little brandade of cod. ?



Denis Van Weynbergh (Biarritz Laboratories): “The two sides of the same coin”

“The night from Tuesday to Wednesday was nightmarish. The strong wind whistling in the rigging caused the sails to flap. There was rain, a sea crossing, a dark night to lose its Latin ... And all seasoned by a dog seasickness during the maneuvers which nailed me to the bunk for 4 hours, once Waterloo finished ! This Wednesday evening, it is calm. There is no noise, just the trickle of water on the hull. The boat is moving slowly, probably too much. A half-moon illuminates the sea as if to show the way and a certain zenitude emanates from this atmosphere. These two nights are two sides of the same coin. Sometimes we favor the fact of navigating on the edge of the currency. Everything then depends on its metal, its thickness and the engravings present on it…”



Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian Group):

“After rounding the Gallimard waypoint, we found ourselves with a ridge on our backs, with, as a result, a very, very light wind. Last night it was very weak. However, I made quite a bit of progress with my Code 0. In the end, it was a nice navigation and I even rested a little. I really needed it because I pulled the guy a lot from the start without having had much practice at sea before the race since we launched late. There, the wind begins to return from the northeast. It's blowing between 12 and 13 knots and it should strengthen along Spain. The idea is to pick up the shift in the wind at the tip of Cape Finisterre. We're going to have to be careful because we're going to pass through a complicated area for navigation for two reasons. Firstly, because we will have to negotiate the DTS (traffic separation scheme) and, on the other hand, because when approaching the coast, we will encounter fishermen who do not switch on all their AIS. ?



Isabelle Joschke MACSF:

“Aboard MACSF, everything is fine. I rested this night because the sequence between crossing the front and the descent to the Gallimard waypoint was wet and tiring. I rediscovered the fine averages you can get with this boat, but I also rediscovered the "joys" of life on board in these circumstances, where everything becomes laborious and dangerous. I was treated to a bowl in a sudden braking which served as an alert. On board, you are only entitled to one free hand, the other must always be firmly attached. I'm super happy with my race, I didn't see myself in the game so much with all these beautiful boats around me, and above all all these maneuvers to follow. It reminds me of the Solitaire du Figaro, this course and this pace, but everything is so much more physical in IMOCA. Now, it's back upwind and it's going to take a little longer! ?



Nicolas Lunven (Banque Populaire): "Rather satisfied with my race so far"

“I'm going to go back a bit: the night from Tuesday to Wednesday was marked by the passage of a small secondary depression and its cold front. Although small, we still picked up 35-40 knots on the other side of the front. Once behind this front, we descended at high speed reaching towards the Gallimard waypoint. At first, the wind was strong, then it eased slowly, so we had to maneuver to get some canvas back. The final approach to the virtual mark was made in downright light wind. Suffice to say that in this, we are not talking about rest!

Once past the waypoint, we headed northeast. At first, it wasn't easy with the light wind and residual sea. It was squirming all over the place and it wasn't moving very quickly...
After a bit of effort (or perhaps too much arm-lowering...), I took the opportunity to go and rest. And I really enjoyed it! The wind being a little better established in the second part of the night, things moved forward on their own. Happiness ! All with a superb night, the moon the stars... only the sirens were missing!

Since this Thursday morning, the wind has continued to rise gradually and turn to the right. We should turn in the night around the Spanish point and then go up towards Brest, still close-hauled, on starboard tack. Even if the upwind is not the most fun pace, I still have a lot of fun: the weather is nice, it's not cold, the nights are superb and I'm quite satisfied with my race so far. , Hope it lasts ! I have to be careful not to run out of chocolate otherwise I risk arriving in a very bad mood! ?

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The longest day

To face a vast zone of soft water of nearly 800 miles, the skippers try to find all the subterfuges and to spare their nerves. The leader Charlie Dalin (APIVIA) - who is 150 miles from the finish - should nevertheless find some air at the latitude of Ouessant. At the same time, the majority of the fleet is busy skirting the Spanish coast.

Sailors all retain a part of mystery, no matter how long they spend sailing offshore. Even during a 1,200 mile race, questions abound, on land, to understand the range of emotions that must resurface at every moment, there, on board, to battle against everything. The Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race is no exception in the field. The ascent to Brest, which the majority of the fleet had begun, ran into a long mole zone of around 800 miles (1,200 km). In short, the equivalent of a Brest-Marseille trip without petrol!


We must therefore compete in ingenuity and show great patience. And this therefore concerns the entire fleet, including the leader, Charlie Dalin. Throughout the night, the skipper of APIVIA made progress at the start of the morning with 10 to 11 knots of wind. “He managed to keep a bit of speed,” said Hubert Lemonnier in race direction. And then it will touch air at the latitude of Ouessant. Charlie is now 150 miles direct from Brest and his arrival is still expected between "this Thursday evening at 8 p.m. and tonight between 3 and 4 a.m.".





“The more we are behind, the more expensive we will be”

Behind, J?r?mie Beyou clocks in at 118 miles, the biggest gap between 1st and 2nd in the race. On board Charal, he nevertheless retained a northern routing, identical to that of Charlie. For its part, the rest of the fleet has opted to head east and follow the Spanish coast to avoid the famous soft zone. “The goal is to get away from the soft zone as quickly as possible, we are going to tack along Spain, corroborates Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian Group). It's going to be hard, hard, hard and the more we are behind, the more expensive we are going to be. ?


Hubert Lemonnier recognizes that the task is particularly exhausting: “there are going to be a lot of sail changes, it will be long! “And in addition to adapting to the conditions, it will be necessary to ensure the presence of wood which floats on the surface and which can damage the boats.


Denis Van Weynbergh's "Waterloo"

The pursuer fleet can be divided into three distinct groups. First there are the most advanced, the trio Louis Burton (Bureau Vall?e, 3rd), Isabelle Joschke (MACSF, 4th) and Nicolas Lunven (Banque Populaire, 5th) who "are progressing at 10, 11 knots" (dixit Hubert) this early morning. Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian Group, 6th) is leading another group, up to ?ric Bellion (Commeunseulhomme, 11th) who is 50 miles further south.


Finally, the fleet is stretching like never before: nearly 430 miles now separate the leader from the last Denis Van Weynbergh (Laboratoires de Biarritz). The Belgian has suffered in recent hours. He also evokes a “nightmarish night” between Tuesday and Wednesday, a “Waterloo” where he had to resist with “a dog seasickness during the maneuvers”. Last night, Denis would have had problems furling or unfurling the sail, but he was able to continue his march forward. Like him, two other skippers are preparing to cross the Gallimard 'way point': Manuel Cousin (Group S?tin, 19th) and Antoine Cornic (EBAC Literie, 20th).

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Charlie Dalin, the story of a faultless


By leading the race from start to finish and continually setting the pace, the skipper of Apivia returned to winning ways. He crossed the line this Friday at 1 hour 27 minutes after 4 days, 10 hours, 47 minutes and 30 seconds of racing. A way to demonstrate that he has lost none of his will to win and that he is approaching this year more than ever with increased enthusiasm.

He found his element, his habits and even his adversaries. You should have seen Charlie Dalin's smile, Sunday morning on the pontoons of Brest, at the idea of setting off again alone. “The last time in the race was crossing the finish line of the Vendee Globe,” he confided at the time. The words were simple – “I'm happy to be back alone this season” – but the determination was already palpable.

The head and the trio

And to be convinced of this, all you had to do was follow the trace left by Apivia on the map. Because Charlie Dalin has honored his rank. Right from the start, his IMOCA pointed to the bow in the lead and he wouldn't leave it. With him, every detail counts. The approach to the race, the choices, the strategy must have surgical precision. When he talks about his race at the end of his first night on board, the Le Havre explains: “I knew it was important to have fresh air to escape ahead”. There are implacable logics in leading the charge when you are heading out to sea. “Once we caught the new wind, it really went up front and we started to widen the gap”.

If Charlie says "we", he's leading the charge as a trio. At the Trophee Departement Finistere waypoint, he is less than 5 miles ahead of Jeremie Beyou (Charal) and Thomas Ruyant (LinkedOut). At that of the Fastnet, 20 miles separate them. The skipper Apivia is amused: "We've been racing in contact since the 2020 Vendee Arctic! Same on the Transat Jacques Vabre 2021 and again this year” . A "logical" three-way battle since each "combines the performance of our boats with our experience".

"Push Charlie, push"

He also knows that the truths of a moment, offshore, can waltz at any moment. Towards the Fastnet, the 35 knots of wind required constant vigilance. "It was quite sporty with a lot of manoeuvres, sail reduction, headsail changes..." He also admits, "having put comfort aside". But it paid off and the gap widened, even more, when approaching the Gallimard 'way point'. He was then 4 hours ahead of Jeremie Beyou and more than 7 hours over Louis Burton (Bureau Vallee), who stole 3rd place from Thomas Ruyant, victim of a bar system problem.

The ascent to Brest is nothing like a triumphal march. "The last section is more difficult than it looks", he confides, because "the ridge pushes very quickly behind" . The sailor turns into a fine tactician - "I spend a lot of time in front of the computer in front of the files" - and assures that he will not let go. “Push Charlie, push,” he blurts out in reference to F1 drivers.

The pleasure is only greater

While a zone of softness forms and plays with the nerves of all his pursuers, he manages to keep a straighter route. Its pace is slower – 10 to 11 knots in the night from Wednesday to Thursday – but more consistent than its comrades. At the latitude of Ouessant, he is picking up some air and can calmly complete this Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race this Thursday night.

Charlie Dalin's joy is all the stronger because fate seemed to be working hard. There are bound to be memories of the Vend?e Globe. A world tour led almost half of the course (48%), finished 1st on the finish line before being reclassified 2nd. Then the Transat Jacques Vabre last fall with Paul Meilhat and 2nd place, again. He confided, on arrival in Martinique, that he lacked "a few small ingredients" and "a hint of success". Charlie sometimes has the words of a striker who struggles to hide his frustration when the goals are not there. But the pleasure is all the greater when success is rewarded. And that's what he felt this Thursday in Brest, one of his evenings which will certainly have a special place in his memory box.

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Jeremie Beyou second and a trio in ambush


Jeremie Beyou, the skipper of Charal is the second to have crossed the finish line, this Friday at 4:42:35 p.m. He completes the race in 5 days, 02 hours 02 minutes and 35 seconds, 15 hours, 15 minutes and 05 seconds from Apivia. Three new arrivals are expected on Saturday morning: those of Louis Burton (Bureau Vall?e), Isabelle Joschke (MACSF) and Nicolas Lunven (Banque Populaire) who will thus complete the 'top 5' of the Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race.



Beyou, on the podium from start to finish


The last time Jeremie Beyou set foot on land following a solo race, it was at the Vendee Globe in January 2021. A very special journey during which a return to land from the very first days had forced him to set off again at the end of the peloton and gradually move up the fleet. Upon his arrival (13th), relieved to have ended it, Jeremie wanted to bounce back and quickly. Since then, he has not left the podiums: 2nd in the Fastnet, 3rd in the Transat Jacques-Vabre and therefore 2nd in this Guyader-Bermuda 1000 Race this Friday afternoon. A more than deserved result, especially since he never left the top three.

He had to resist rough seas and strong winds from the Fastnet, gusts of more than 45 knots towards the Gallimard waypoint, then this long soft zone from which he managed to extricate himself, being the only one, with Charlie Dalin, to take an almost direct route. After going up to the Isles of Scilly, Jeremie therefore returned to Brest at the end of the day. The skipper thus offers himself his 8th podium since 2019 and can now turn to the Vendee-Arctic-Les Sables d'Olonne with ambition.




Friday and Saturday, anything goes

Now, eyes are now on a trio: Louis Burton (Bureau Vallee), Isabelle Joschke (MACSF) and Nicolas Lunven (Banque Populaire). The first offered himself a 'remontada' (14th on the 1st day, 3rd now), the second - with an identical boat to last year and a reinforced bow - never left the 'top 10', the third impressed for his first solo race in Imoca. Banque Populaire is therefore the first drift boat to complete this Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race, a great reward after having been continuously at the head of the fleet.

Louis, Isabelle and Nicolas could arrive in the port of Brest during the day: the ETAs announce them within a range of 7 am until the end of the morning. Then it's Benjamin Dutreux (Guyot Environnement), Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian Group), Damien Seguin (APICIL), Conrad Colman (Imagine), Benjamin Ferre (Benjamin sends the glitch), Arnaud Boissieres (La Mie Caline) and Eric Bellion (Commeunseulhomme) who were expected in the afternoon.

The two who bring up the rear, Antoine Cornic (Ebac) and Denis Van Weynbergh (Laboratoires de Biarritz), should finish this Sunday. Finally, it should be noted that Thomas Ruyant, who suffered a broken part in the steering system, is expected at the port of Lorient in the evening.

The words of Jeremie Beyou (Charal), second in the Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race, on his arrival in Brest:
“It was a very intense race! The conditions were very varied. We had everything with fast tacks, maneuvers and contact especially with Thomas (Ruyant) and Charlie (Dalin). When everything goes down on arrival, it's really weird. Like everyone else, it was my first solo race since the Vend?e Globe. I was eager to find the solo. The benchmarks quickly returned to the starting line even though I struggled a bit to find the speed on the first legs. Afterwards, there wasn't much to think about because the other two (Charlie and Thomas) were putting on the rubber! Charlie has again signed a great victory, a big congratulations to him! Me, I 'hit' in the boat and in the man to the maximum to stick Charlie but it was not enough. I'm also disappointed for Thomas, he deserved better! Soon, it is the Vend?e-Arctic-Les Sables d'Olonne. It's nice to be part of a championship that is clocked as currently. With the team, we know what we have to do to quickly get the boat back into service, go back to training and try to be better in June. I'm happy with this second place but it's not the one I'm looking for! ?

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Charlie Dalin: “the feeling of being in a state of grace”



Around 3:00 am, on the night of Thursday to Friday, the skipper of APIVIA moored at the pontoon and was able to savor the victory. He then looked back on his race, mentioned this boat which "always surprises him" and is already thinking about what's next, a month away from the Vend?e-Arctic-Les Sables d'Olonne.



How did you feel crossing the line?

I feel happy, happy to have won this race. It was really intense! From the start, it went well for me. I managed to take the lead straight away before a good fight with Thomas (Ruyant) and Jeremie (Beyou). I had an all-nighter the first night to recover from the southwest wind. Then the wind picked up and I attacked and pulled hard on the boat to go as fast as possible. During the 2nd night, between the Fastnet and the Gallimard waypoint, I was able to sleep, especially since I knew that the following night was that of the front. And the third night, with the sail changes and maneuvers, I didn't sleep. Afterwards, there was the ascent with this dorsal which helped me a lot and closed the door behind. "The year couldn't have started better"



How do you describe this race and your feelings?

This Guyader Bermuda 1000 Race went extremely well. I felt like I was in a state of grace the whole race. It was as if all the elements came together. I had a reliable, high-performance boat that I know inside out. In the weather, I managed quite well and I always had a bit of success when needed. This is my first solo IMOCA victory of my career, the 4th on the program since 2019. The year couldn't have started better!



Do you feel like you've changed since the last Vendee Globe?

I feel a real difference since I crossed the line in Les Sables d'Olonne. I had learned a lot and I now feel extremely comfortable in the management of the boat and the manoeuvres. I know immediately what to change as settings to go faster. In my sleep management too, it has nothing to do. I feel like I'm not the same sailor anymore and I feel that I have a lot more experience. Don't forget that the last time I was alone on this boat was at the finish of the Vend?e Globe. At the Guyader Bermuda 1000 Race, when the team left the boat at the start, I found myself on my own again. And the solo, the fact of managing its maneuvers and its rhythm all by itself, that's what makes me vibrate the most. I really enjoyed this Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race. “This boat still surprises me”


We feel a lot of emotion in you...

Yes, because it's a victory, because that's the reason for our work, because that's why the team fights every day to make the boat progress. They give themselves without counting all around me so that we go faster, that we determine the right settings and that we find the solutions to move forward. The work has paid off and I owe this success to a great team that allows me to have such a reliable and efficient boat.



What were the fun times during this race?

There were plenty! I would quote the departure since it sometimes happens to me to miss them. I am also thinking of the passage of the Fastnet: there were people on the lighthouse and I greeted them. Last night, I was under Code 0, the boat started surfing and managed to maintain a very high speed… This boat, even though it's the 4th year that I've been sailing on it, it still surprises me. There was around ten knots of wind and he manages to stay thirty seconds at 17 knots! I thought to myself: this boat is crazy!



How do you view the rest of the fleet?

There was a good fight with Thomas (Ruyant), Jeremie (Beyou) and Nicolas (Lunven) during the first night. It reminded me a bit of the Figaro years when we fought in the transition zones wondering who would recover from the wind first. Then the fleet stretched and the gap widened.



What is your program for the coming weeks?

From next week, we will start preparing for the Vendee-Arctic-Les Sables d'Olonne which starts in a month. It's going to be the biggest chunk of the year when it comes to physical engagement. The major objective is the Route du Rhum, but the toughest race will be “the Arctic”!

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Words from the edge 05/13
Benjamin Ferre (Benjamin sends the glitch): "Friday the 13th, a lucky day"

“Friday the 13th. I always said to myself that it was necessary to decree that it was a lucky day after all! It was really intense last night going to tack very close to the coast in the middle of the Spanish fishermen. I was able, moreover, to appreciate the impeccable Spanish of ?ric Bellion in full discussion on the VHF with a fisherman. When you think that we went to Ireland and Spain and that we didn't even stop to drink a Guiness or nibble on two or three tapas… For my part, I'm starting to get really burnt out. I'm trying to keep up the pace, but let's say that the gearing and the maneuvers in IMOCA are a bit different from the Mini 6.50, that's for sure! I'm going to try to get some sleep so I'm ready to get back on the canvas as soon as things go soft! ?


Guirec Soud?e (Freelance.com): “ A bit like a child ”

" I feel good. I feel exactly where I should be. I am a bit like a child. Everything is going well on board. There are options to do but before choosing them, I don't necessarily have the right answers. I'm testing. Sometimes I think it could work a little better. I am far from having answers to all the questions that I can ask myself. I can't wait to get back on land to talk about it with my team but in the meantime, I'm in the package with four super boats, four foilers. It's already super cool. At the start, I was a little more at the back of the fleet and I saw that I could pull the boat a little more and manage to manage. That's good, but I haven't arrived yet. The main thing is to get the boat back. I'm tweaking some settings to see what happens. In fact, I should have taken the IMOCA user manual with me. I only sailed ten days on this type of boat before the race. It's still not a lot. However, I will not complain. It's still great to be where I am. I am happy. Strongly that I exceed one or two and I will be even more! (Laughs)”


Antoine Cornic (EBAC Literie): “I hope the killer whales will leave me alone”

“Last night, it was quiet, with the boat under pilot, upwind. I did not do much. There, it's a little more humid and the wind is getting stronger near Spain. The boat hits. I've already taken in a reef but who knows… I'm going to attack the cargo rail north of the DST and there will be a lot of people as usual. I have a little thought for my killer whales from the transat... I hope they will let me pass in peace this time. It's funny, but it stuck with me. ?


Arnaud Boissi?res (La Mie C?line): “ Spanish Sleepless Night”


“Everything came together to have a lively night and it was. I crossed a succession of freighters on the Ouessant - Cape Finisterre axis. I got sidetracked for one. Once the freighters passed, it was the fishermen who appeared! I must have come across about fifteen of them. On the VHF, it only speaks Spanish. Yo tambien (well not too much). In short, I moved away from two who were fishing and did not seem too maneuverable. After all that we had to tack and take buckets of water outside while moving the sails. Once everything was done and tidied up, I was able to make myself a tea and enjoy the sunrise. I managed to take a small advantage over Eric (Bellio) and Benjamin the glitch. I had, for a while, Conrad (Colman) within AIS range then he disappeared, but the Kiwi is not far away. The front two aren't either. The last sprint will be tight and strategic. We will give heart to the work to finish well. I plugged in my alarm clock to do three 20-minute sleeps before noon. Kudos to Charlie, he's on another planet. ?



Pip Hare (Medallia): “ Perfect for gauging yourself ”

“The change of pace was radical yesterday. After the frantic activity of the previous three days, I was finally able to focus on the details and try to really understand Medallia. To understand what it needs to be fast and stay that way. Since I overshot the Gallimard waypoint last night, I've been racing close to Fabrice Amedeo then Alan Roura. For much of the morning I could see them on the horizon or on the AIS, and that gave me a real opportunity to gauge myself against them at speed. This "speed test" was a good performance indicator and will allow me to work on specific points. I thus collected invaluable data.

One thing is certain, in this fleet, if you have a little moment of inattention, even for a very short time only, you pay cash. Same thing if you make a small mistake. Because of this, even when I'm sleeping, I can't afford to lose momentum. I play on autopilot a lot. From time to time, I take the helm. I run Medallia forward as fast as possible and try to analyze my own bar movements so I can program this response pattern into the driver. I look a lot at the average performance of my boat and I compare it to that of my opponents.

Like the rest of my rivals in front of me, I continue my route off Spain. Now I'm heading north across the Bay of Biscay. There are reports floating around about a dumped cargo of wood in the water. Louis Burton encountered boards earlier today. I'm surprised these are still there because when I was ferrying from Portugal over two weeks ago I passed Sam Goodchild on board his Ocean Fifty who he warned me of this problem . The ocean has not dispersed them yet. There's not much I can do anyway. The radar doesn't pick them up and I can't really keep a constant eye on what's ahead of him, so hopefully I don't encounter any. ?




Conrad Colman (Imagine): " A battle like a dinghy "

“It's a real battle like on a dinghy! The situation is complicated, for me in any case. Since our tack off Cape Ortegal, Benjamin Ferr? and ?ric Bellion have been on my heels. In such cases, it is always better to be a hunter than a hunter. The 24 hours of racing are going to be very stressful. I hope to have an opportunity to get back to the East to close the gap with my two main rivals in order to be able to play on equal terms with them in the last miles. These last miles promise to be interesting but also very tiring. I'm probably going to arrive shattered, but I really want to succeed in giving the best of myself and of the boat to the end! It's my challenge and it's a good challenge! ?

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Louis Burton (Bureau Vallee) completes the podium!

Six months almost to the day after his dismasting in the Transat Jacques Vabre, which occurred barely ten hours after the start of the race, Louis Burton achieved a very good third place in the 3rd edition of the the Guyader Bermuda 1000 Race. A place he took 120 miles before passing the Gallimard waypoint on Wednesday morning (after Thomas Ruyant - LinkedOut retired from the race), and which he defended with panache until the last miles despite the repeated attacks by Nicolas Lunven Banque Populaire) and Isabelle Joschke (Team MACSF).

The skipper of Bureau Vallee, who had a troubled start to the race due to a fishing trap which forced him to lay his boat into the wind to succeed in setting off again on the first night, then made a comeback in strength, fully exploiting the potential of his machine. A machine with which, in the preamble to the race, he won the Pom'Potes Challenge and which, for the record, underwent, last winter, some improvements in terms of weight, ergonomics and comfort on board with in particular a bed and the kitchen support made of a composite of vegetable fiber and bio-sourced resin.

His race time: 5 days, 23 hours, 01 minute and 15 seconds. Its gap to the first: 1 day, 12 hours, 13 minutes and 45 seconds. Its gap to the previous one: 20 hours and 58 minutes. ergonomics and comfort on board with, in particular, a bed and the kitchen support made of a composite of plant fiber and bio-sourced resin.



Macif

Isabelle Joschke (Team MACSF), a hard-fought “Top 5”!

At the start last Sunday, Isabelle Joschke showed a broad smile and admitted “a real desire to go there”. An enthusiasm that materialized in the race: 5th at the Finistere Department waypoint, 11th at the Fastnet, she crossed the Gallimard point in 4th place before finishing in 5th position, this Saturday, at 3:03:36 p.m. . The Franco-German will have taken 6 days and 23 minutes to complete the 1,200 mile course. Its gap to the first: 1 day, 13 hours and 36 minutes. Its gap to the previous one: 32 minutes and 46 seconds. The skipper of Team MACSF, who did very well, especially on the second half of the course, took the opportunity to demonstrate the relevance of the number of modifications made to her IMOCA this winter, like her new bow ,






Banque Populaire

Nicolas Lunven (Banque Populaire), 4th and first daggerboard boat!
The skipper of Banque Populaire, who was competing in his first race alone aboard an IMOCA, managed to play in the "Top 5" almost throughout the race. A great success concluded this Saturday at 2:30 minutes and 50 seconds, after 5 days, 23 hours and 50 minutes of racing. His gap to the first: 1 day, 13 hours and 03 minutes from the winner. Its gap to the previous one: 49 minutes and 35 seconds. As a reminder, the 39-year-old from Vannet, who replaces pregnant Clarisse Cremer, took charge of his monohull in mid-April. Second after an hour of racing, 4th at the Fastnet and 6th at the Gallimard waypoint, he managed to hold off the foilers. Enough to start this new adventure by filling up with enthusiasm!



Benjamin Dutreux (Guyot Environment - Water Family) crossed the finish line of the Guyader Bermuda 1000 Race in 6th place this Saturday, May 14, at 15:00, 12 minutes, 42 seconds.





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