The Solitaire du Figaro Paprec sets course for Vigo, with arrival expected on Thursday. The next 36 hours will be tough: an anticyclone will complicate navigation and promises constant changes in the lead. Right now, the boat Macif 2025, sailed by Frenchman Hugo Dhallenne, holds first place. The olive city is preparing to welcome the participants of this demanding regatta.
The anticyclone tests strategy and onboard technology ⛵
Skippers will have to manage the passage of a high-pressure system that will reduce wind and create calm zones. Decision-making on routes and sail changes will be key. The boats, one-design Figaro Beneteau 3s, carry sensors that measure data such as speed, wind angle, and pressure. This information, combined with weather forecasts, allows tactics to be adjusted in real time to avoid losing positions.
The calm of the anticyclone, or how to make friends in the middle of the ocean 🐦
Sailors face hours of light wind, meaning more time to chat with the seagulls and count the waves. The fleet will advance at a snail's pace, and more than one will miss the hustle and bustle of the starts. Of course, they will arrive in Vigo with plenty of time to enjoy some octopus a la gallega, as long as they don't fall asleep along the way.