Ireland's Pamela Lee is diverting to the Azores for repairs aboard EmpowHer, while Italian race favourite Ambrogio Beccaria has been forced to retire from the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe after suffering a back injury in heavy seas.
Five days after the start from Saint-Malo, the solo transatlantic race continues to test sailors across its six fleets, with severe weather around the Azores, a tropical depression near the Caribbean and an unusual absence of trade winds complicating the approach to Guadeloupe.
Pam Lee Plans Azores Pitstop
Greystones skipper Pam Lee has decided to make a technical stop in the Azores after losing the deck padeye securing her J2 headsail and experiencing persistent electrical charging problems aboard EmpowHer.
Lee was approximately 140 nautical miles north of the islands on Friday morning and remains determined to continue racing once repairs have been completed. Her decision comes as the Class40 fleet battles difficult conditions around the Portuguese archipelago, with further heavy weather forecast for Saturday. Afloat previously reported on Lee's early race progress and the fleet's Atlantic weather choices.
Guillaume Pirouelle (Sogestran – Seafrigo) continues to lead the Class40 division, although Achille Nebout (Amarris) and Robin Follin (Solano) remain close enough to challenge. Follin, sailing approximately 30 miles west of Flores, reported winds reaching 32 knots and confused seas despite the passage of a weather front. The third-placed skipper was less than 20 miles behind Pirouelle.
Beccaria Retires Following Cockpit Fall
Italian skipper Ambrogio Beccaria, one of the pre-race favourites, has withdrawn after a heavy fall inside the cockpit of his IMOCA Allagrande Mapei on Thursday night. Beccaria was holding fifth place in the 60-foot monohull division when the accident occurred in rough seas.
Suffering from severe back pain, he consulted the race's medical team before deciding to abandon the race and divert towards the Azores, where medical attention is being arranged. His retirement is another setback for an IMOCA fleet already tested by demanding conditions across the Atlantic.
Laperche Approaches Guadeloupe With Commanding Lead
At the front of the Ultim fleet, Tom Laperche (SVR-Lazartigue) has established an advantage of more than 540 nautical miles, with fewer than 630 miles remaining to the finish at Pointe-à-Pitre. However, the French skipper must negotiate a tropical depression before tackling an unusual upwind approach to Guadeloupe.
The absence of the customary trade winds means the final miles could involve repeated tacking rather than the fast downwind finish normally associated with the race. Laperche said he was anxious to avoid losing ground during the transition between weather systems, while recognising the need to preserve both his boat and his own energy after several exhausting days.
Behind him, Thomas Coville (Sodebo Ultim 3) is under pressure from Ultim newcomer Louis Burton (Armand Thiery), who was just five miles astern and sailing faster on Friday morning.
Horeau Extends IMOCA Advantage
Corentin Horeau (MACSF) has increased his IMOCA lead to more than 245 nautical miles after recovering the ground he lost to Boris Herrmann (Malizia 4) on Thursday. Horeau described particularly violent conditions, including a sudden broach that left his monohull heeled over at approximately 90 degrees.
Although conditions had moderated to winds of 16–22 knots on Friday, the leader remains wary of further thunderstorms and unsettled weather ahead. Britain's Sam Goodchild (MACIF Santé Prévoyance) has climbed to third place and was approximately 30 miles behind Herrmann.
Italian-American skipper Francesca Clapcich (11th Hour Racing) has meanwhile reported problems with her J0 headsail, which became partially wrapped around the forestay. The exhausted sailor expressed uncertainty about whether she would be able to use the sail again.
Bourgnon Builds Ocean Fifty Lead
In the Ocean Fifty division, Basile Bourgnon (Edenred) has extended his lead beyond 115 nautical miles after an intensive period of sail handling and manoeuvring. The French skipper reported finally managing some proper sleep, although the physical demands of the race have left him with blisters from handling the sheets.
With another spell of heavy weather approaching, Bourgnon believes protecting the boat and avoiding mistakes will become more important than outright speed. Elsewhere in the division, Erwan Le Draoulec (Lazare x Hellio) is approaching Horta in the Azores after deciding to stop on medical advice following a dislocated shoulder.
Further Damage and Retirements
Conditions have also taken their toll in the Rhum Multi division, where Éric Péron (French Touch – Oceania Hôtels) has suffered damage to the mainsail lazy-bag aboard his ORMA trimaran, creating additional rigging difficulties. The division leader, Seguin, holds an advantage of approximately 70 miles.
In Rhum Mono, Tanguy Caradec (Eurvad) is preparing for another spell of severe weather after experiencing gusts of 37–40 knots. He expects to reduce sail substantially as conditions deteriorate.
Former Vendée Globe winner Vincent Riou, sailing the Class40 Pierreval – Fondation GoodPlanet, has also decided not to continue. Although repairs were completed during a stop in A Coruña, Riou concluded that the prospect of a competitive finish no longer justified the risks to himself and his boat.
With another Atlantic weather system approaching the Azores and the leaders encountering unusual conditions near the Caribbean, the Route du Rhum remains unpredictable despite the substantial advantages established at the front of several fleets. For Ireland's Pam Lee, the immediate priority is reaching the Azores, restoring EmpowHer to racing condition and returning to the course.
