Transat Jacques Vabre: what a show by Andrea Fantini in the Class 40s

The Transat Jacques Vabre, the legendary double transatlantic from France to the Caribbean, has now entered its prime. The four classes in the race (Ultime, Multi 50, Imoca 60 and Class 40) are at an important stage of the race, the one where some ranking positions are being consolidated ahead of the final sprint to the finish.

Racing for Italy are Giancarlo Pedote on Prysmian Ocean Racing, paired with Martin Le Pape, and Andrea Fantini on the Class 40 Guidi paired with Charles Louis Mourruau. And it is precisely the Class 40 Guidi that has taken center stage in recent days: Fantini and Mourruau, with an excellent tacking in the Trade Winds, even climbed up to second position, less than 40 miles behind leader Redman. It was difficult to predict such a performance on the eve of the race, given the very high level of the regatta and the fact that Fantini was an outsider. But reality on the water can often differ from predictions, and here the Ferrara native paired with his partner are having a really important regatta that could still hold many surprises.

Less happy is likely to be Giancarlo Pedote, who with Prysmian is in tenth position but charges 700 miles behind the leader Linkedout. A gap certainly due to the difference in pace with the latest generation of Imoca, but also the child of a not-so-easy first part of the race.

The first to cross the finish line in Martinique will likely be the Multi 50s, which currently have Primonial in the lead, while among the Ultime, the class with the longest course, there is Edmond de Rotschild in the lead.

THE NEW ROUTE OF THE TRANSAT JACQUES VABRE

The interesting novelty of the 2021 edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre is the new route of the race. In fact, the classes in the regatta will have different course lengths. The Class 40s will have to pass south of Cape Verde, a total of 4600 miles. Imoca 60 and Multi 50 instead of miles will cover 5800 with Fernando de Noronha dubbing. The Ultime will have the longest route, 7500, and will have to pass through the Trinidade archipelago before heading to the Caribbean.

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