Everyone poised for action in Brest !

Since midday this Thursday, the thirteen IMOCAs competing in the fourth edition of the Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race Brest - Brest have been in position, split between the Marina du Château and the Quai Malbert. We’ll have to wait until Sunday to see them set sail on the main event, but in the meantime they’ll be sure to bring Brest harbour to life. Indeed, Friday will see them performing in one of the event’s first highlights: the speed runs. Beyond the purely competitive aspect, there will be awards for the best time over a 1.2-mile course (Défi Pom’Potes Trophy) as well as the best time over 500 metres (Oceania Hotel Trophy). As such, it promises to be an exhilarating experience for the skippers, who’ll be able to really put pedal to the metal and test their machines, for their guests who will enjoy a thrilling ride, as well as for the local public, who will get the chance to enjoy the spectacle from a whole host of vantage points !

“We’re expecting everyone to relish getting straight down to business in this Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race Brest - Brest! It’s the first clash of the season for all the competing boats. Within this context, everyone’s bound to be very excited!” says Yann Eliès, Yoann Richomme’s co-skipper aboard Paprec Arkéa, which is unquestionably one of the most eagerly awaited boats to grace the event along with Thomas Ruyant’s FOR PEOPLE; both of them the newbies of the IMOCA fleet. “It will be the first proper test for the boat. We’re eager to see how she measures up in relation to the others, even though we’re well aware that we lack practice having only launched at the end of February,” continues the sailor from Saint Brieuc, who knows that lining up for a race so early after the build phase is already a massive challenge in itself, but equally that the competitive spirit will quickly gain the upper hand whatever happens. “Whether you’re ready to go or not quite there, the minute a start line is set there’s inevitably a desire to get involved! It’s going to be a fantastic opportunity to push the machine hard. There are a lot of things we still need to test the limits on, but we still have time on our side so breaking something wouldn’t compromise the rest of the season,” explains the triple champion of the Solitaire du Figaro.

Speed runs, a valuable first source of information 

It’s virtually the same scenario for Morgan Lagravière, Thomas Ruyant’s co-skipper. “We’re approaching this first race of the year with a real sense of enjoyment and passion. It’s going to be a steep learning curve for everyone involved. For us personally, we haven’t clocked up many hours aboard FOR PEOPLE yet, but the first sensations and the initial feedback we’ve had in terms of performance have been very positive. Obviously, as we’re yet to do battle with our rivals, it’s a bit complicated to draw any conclusions for now. The racing is bound to be instructive, as will tomorrow’s speed runs. Though the two exercises are completely different, we know that the quick boats in the runs will also be quick offshore. In any case, they are sure to be a good way to gauge our performance,” says the sailor, who may well have the odds stacked in his favour since he’s already racked up a number of miles with the skipper and also won the Transat Jacques Vabre 2021 with him in class IMOCA.

Speed runs a plenty and two Trophies up for grabs

So how will these speed runs actually work? From 11:00 hours local time this Friday, a zone will be totally cleared of those boats following the action out on the water, so that the racers can fully focus on their speed in Brest roads with complete safety. Inside this zone, the Race Committee will set up two gates 1.2-miles apart, between Île Ronde and Pen Ar Vir. The teams will be able to set sail whenever they choose and have as many cracks at a speed run as they like between 13:30 and 16:30 hours. At the end of the day, two prizes will be awarded: the Défi Pom’Potes Trophy will reward the best time over the runs, whilst the Oceania Hotel Trophy will reward the best time over 500 metres. Up for grabs for the two winners: their weight in Pom’Potes flasks for the former and a night for two at the Oceania Le Conti hotel in Brest for the latter. It’s worth noting that in the last edition in 2022, Louis Burton won these famous speed runs, just a fraction of a second ahead of Charlie Dalin, the outright winner of the event. Though it’s a safe bet to say that there will be precious little separating the boats again this year, it’s impossible to say with any certainty who the winners will be. That said, the smiles will be guaranteed on the faces of those docking back in tomorrow!

“We’re expecting everyone to relish getting straight down to business in this Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race Brest - Brest! It’s the first clash of the season for all the competing boats. Within this context, everyone’s bound to be very excited!” says Yann Eliès, Yoann Richomme’s co-skipper aboard Paprec Arkéa, which is unquestionably one of the most eagerly awaited boats to grace the event along with Thomas Ruyant’s FOR PEOPLE; both of them the newbies of the IMOCA fleet. “It will be the first proper test for the boat. We’re eager to see how she measures up in relation to the others, even though we’re well aware that we lack practice having only launched at the end of February,” continues the sailor from Saint Brieuc, who knows that lining up for a race so early after the build phase is already a massive challenge in itself, but equally that the competitive spirit will quickly gain the upper hand whatever happens. “Whether you’re ready to go or not quite there, the minute a start line is set there’s inevitably a desire to get involved! It’s going to be a fantastic opportunity to push the machine hard. There are a lot of things we still need to test the limits on, but we still have time on our side so breaking something wouldn’t compromise the rest of the season,” explains the triple champion of the Solitaire du Figaro.

Speed runs, a valuable first source of information 

It’s virtually the same scenario for Morgan Lagravière, Thomas Ruyant’s co-skipper. “We’re approaching this first race of the year with a real sense of enjoyment and passion. It’s going to be a steep learning curve for everyone involved. For us personally, we haven’t clocked up many hours aboard FOR PEOPLE yet, but the first sensations and the initial feedback we’ve had in terms of performance have been very positive. Obviously, as we’re yet to do battle with our rivals, it’s a bit complicated to draw any conclusions for now. The racing is bound to be instructive, as will tomorrow’s speed runs. Though the two exercises are completely different, we know that the quick boats in the runs will also be quick offshore. In any case, they are sure to be a good way to gauge our performance,” says the sailor, who may well have the odds stacked in his favour since he’s already racked up a number of miles with the skipper and also won the Transat Jacques Vabre 2021 with him in class IMOCA.

Speed runs a plenty and two Trophies up for grabs

So how will these speed runs actually work? From 11:00 hours local time this Friday, a zone will be totally cleared of those boats following the action out on the water, so that the racers can fully focus on their speed in Brest roads with complete safety. Inside this zone, the Race Committee will set up two gates 1.2-miles apart, between Île Ronde and Pen Ar Vir. The teams will be able to set sail whenever they choose and have as many cracks at a speed run as they like between 13:30 and 16:30 hours. At the end of the day, two prizes will be awarded: the Défi Pom’Potes Trophy will reward the best time over the runs, whilst the Oceania Hotel Trophy will reward the best time over 500 metres. Up for grabs for the two winners: their weight in Pom’Potes flasks for the former and a night for two at the Oceania Le Conti hotel in Brest for the latter. It’s worth noting that in the last edition in 2022, Louis Burton won these famous speed runs, just a fraction of a second ahead of Charlie Dalin, the outright winner of the event. Though it’s a safe bet to say that there will be precious little separating the boats again this year, it’s impossible to say with any certainty who the winners will be. That said, the smiles will be guaranteed on the faces of those docking back in tomorrow!