After the mist comes the sun

The weather was idyllic this morning on the waters of this fourth day of the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec. Goodbye to yesterday's fog, hello to bright sunshine that will allow the sailors to warm up and dry their boats. While the heatwave is hitting France hard, on the water, temperatures are much cooler. This morning, the rankings are changing, evolving, and generating excitement with each update, and we're not complaining. At 6 a.m., Marie Gendron was leading this impressive fleet ahead of Arthur Meurisse and Paul Loiseau; an hour later, Paul Loison took the lead ahead of Marie Gendron and the British sailor Ellie Driver. This situation should continue throughout the day, much to our delight.

It came suddenly, bringing with it its dampness, its whiteness, and its anxiety. The fog enveloped the sailors all night, and it wasn't until dawn that it finally deigned to evaporate. Last night, just before nightfall, the Express boat was accompanying Paul Loiseau, alongside Pierrick Letouzé. The two sailors were navigating by sight, or almost. Like ghosts, they glided under spinnaker; only the silhouette of the mainsail contrasted with the surrounding whiteness. The image was beautiful, but for the sailors, the atmosphere was less so. The humidity carried by the fog seeped in everywhere. "The boat is soaked, and so am I; the air is thick with humidity. It was strange; it was truly a wall of water that came crashing down on us," confessed Edouard Golbery (SOS Children's Villages).

But they all agreed, the wind carried them admirably. A source of satisfaction for these solo sailors who are really starting to feel the weight of the hours spent at the helm. " I fell asleep without having set my alarm. I slept far too long and missed the wind shift and the moment when we had to hoist the spinnaker. Luckily, I was able to recover, but it clearly proves that we are exhausted," confided Paul Loiseau (Région Bretagne – CMB Espoir).

During the night, the northernmost group literally ran into a lull, allowing the southerners to gain a small advantage. A few hours later, the tables were turned, and the northerners were back in the game. This yo-yo effect is very real; a look at the historical weather charts clearly illustrates the phenomenon. At the northwest end of the fleet, Victor Mathieu (Elitys) has created a slight gap that could allow him to make a move. On the opposite side, three sailors seem to be struggling with a less windy area: Hugo Le Clech, Hugo Dhallenne (Skipper Macif 2025), and Arthur Meurisse (Kiloutou). Now, patience is key; they will all eventually make a fresh start. The fleet is now spread out over 48 miles along a northwest-southeast axis. The day's weather conditions, with a 3-knot wind shifting from northwest to east and then southeast, are not going to favor good progress.

Paul Loiseau (Région Bretagne - CMB Espoir)

“I think it’s going to be unstable today, there will be transitions, we’ll probably manage to get away at times and escape, and conversely, get caught up quite quickly too. Nothing is decided yet and we’ll have to stay in contact and observe every little ripple on the water,” Paul Loiseau told the VHF radio this morning.

Marie Gendron (Kereis SNCF Voyageurs).

“I love these conditions, I give it my all, I try not to miss any opportunities. I stayed in the middle because I wasn't sure which way the wind was going to go. I didn't try the extremes, I preferred to opt for the center and it worked out. I came here looking for competition and I'm very happy. Sleep-wise, it's okay but it's still tiring, I was able to sleep a little yesterday during the day when the wind was fairly stable,” confided Marie Gendron.

Hugo Le Clech (Mieux)

“Despite the lack of wind and the numerous transitions, it makes the race quite unpredictable but exciting. We're still eager to get closer to the French coast and Pornichet. There will be transitions, and we'll probably manage to get ahead at certain points, break away, and conversely, be caught quite quickly as well. Nothing is decided yet, and we'll have to stay alert and watch for every little breeze on the water,” concluded Hugo Le Clech.