Having led the re-start of the Charente Maritime/Bahia from Lanzarote on Saturday, Nick Bubb on Whittlebury Hall has joined fellow British sailor Phil Sharp, and Frenchman Jaime Mumbru on a massive flyer out to the west losing nearly 68 places after just two days into the race.
The trio hoped to pick up more wind out to the west before tacking back on to the more direct course but their plan seems to have been scuppered. As well as picking up a favourable breeze offshore, their idea was avoid the light wind zone forecast for the area off the coast of Morocco. But according to the most recent forecast the wind will not be as light as expected leaving those further inshore continuing to hold their pace while Bubb, Sharp and Mumbru continue to head west.
Meanwhile in the leading gaggle of the fleet race favourite Corentin Douguet on E.LeClerc/Bouygues Telecom has taken a decision to head well over to the east, close to the shore in hope of picking up the building Trade Winds. He is currently lying in sixth place, neck and neck with Yves Le Blevec on Point Mariage.
Leading the fleet right now however, is Yvan Noble on Appart City who's currently lying furthest offshore among the leading group. Just five miles astern in third place is lightwind specialist Tobias Hochreutener (British/Swiss).
In the Series class previous leg-winner Peter Laureyssens on Wellments is having a close battle with Sebastien Mesure on Credit Arigcole Skipper Challenge but currently has the advantage as they engage on a tacking battle down the middle of the pack.
Sue Pelling/Yachting World, 10 October 2005
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Having led the re-start of the Charente Maritime/Bahia from Lanzarote on Saturday, Nick Bubb on Whittlebury Hall has joined fellow British sailor Phil Sharp, and Frenchman Jaime Mumbru on a massive flyer out to the west losing nearly 68 places after just two days into the race.
