A complicated race start, but MaxSea helps us to come back to leading positions …
50 boats were competing during this double handed race between Lorient and Morgat. Slow wind conditions were forecasted, and most of the race on the wind.
At the beginning, we are sailing and competing for the first place of our class category, and prototype fleet seems to be very close. But a mistake and a lack of anticipation bring us back to reality… Concentration is the key, we have to keep calm, 24 hours of race are still remaining.
Approaching Belle Ile, we are still in the first part of the fleet, but leaders seem now to sail far from us. Worst: with the rising night, we lost all visual references, and things are going to be more complicated. Conditions are still disturbed, anemometer and speedo are indicating 0…
MaxSea tells us to stay sailing in direction of Penmarc’h, while most of our competitors are choosing land-close options. They must be looking for night land breeze and favorable streams. We decide to trust in MaxSea’s Routing, and stay on direct route.
Approaching Penmarc’h, at 12 am, we are sailing in the leading group of class boats, and some prototypes are now behind us! It’s a very good recompense for us, we were not really prepared for this race and it was a first racing experience for my crew mate.
The end isn’t so happy; another mistake leads us sail slower than the fleet in Audierne bay, where wind is very disturbed and streams very strong.
We cross the line 9th, few minutes after the winner, this result is a very good reward… MaxSea Routing has been perfect, and only a grib forecast error made us loose ranking. Not so bad for a first time…