Yesterday by noon, Justine Mettraux SUI/Bertrand Delesne FRA arrived at the finish of the Transat JV in Bahia as 4th of the Class 40 with a backlog of 14hrs. The news. Five boats are still in the race for at least two days.
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In a close duel in the last miles before the arrival in Bahia, Maxime Sorel/Antoine Carpentier FRA succeeded to pass the leading Aymeric Chappellier/Arthur Le Vaillant FRA and to finish first 17min ahead in the Class 40, and this after 17 days at sea. Bad luck for Chappelier/Le Vaillant FRA, as they were caught by a fisherman's net close to the finish line. This morning, the 3rd-ranked Phil Sharp GBR/Pablo Santurde ESP arrived in Bahia. 'Teamwork' with Justine Mettraux/Bertrand Delesne FRA will finish the race by noon on the 4th place. Here a summary of the Class-40 race with 14 leader changes in 17 days ! Seven Class-40 teams are still underway, the last one with an expected arrival in one week.
The race tracker, the news and the video of the day: The two Ultime-Trimarans are too big to be transported back to France by Cargo. Both - 'Edmond de Rothschild' as well as 'Sodebo' - departed yesterday in Bahia to an inofficial duel back home.

Yesterday, Isabelle Joschke FRA-GER/Pierre Brasseur FRA finished the TJV as 8th Open 60, followed 91min later by Alan Roura SUI/Fréderic Denis FRA with their 'Fabrique'. Today, the last three Open 60 will terminate the race.
In the Class 40, the close fight on top of the fleet continues: Aymeric Chappellier/Arthur Le Vaillant FRA are still first 3,5nm ahead of Maxime Sorel/Antoine Carpentier FRA. Phil Sharp GBR/Pablo Santurde ESP has lost some miles and have now a 23nm backlog. Without chances for the podium are Justine Mettraux/Bertrand Delesne FRA on 4th with a 115nm deficit.
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7 Open 60 have crossed the finish line of the Transat Jacques Vabre in Bahia so far. Next will be Isabelle Joschke FRA/GER/Pierre Brasseur FRA, who just passed Alan Roura SUI/Fréderic Denis FRA a few miles before the arrival.
In the Class 40, about two days from the finish, Aymeric Chappellier/Arthur Le Vaillant FRA reclaimed the first place from Maxime Sorel/Antoine Carpentier FRA now 7nm back. With a 13nm backlog, Phil Sharp GBR/Pablo Santurde ESP remain contenders for victory. Justine Mettraux SUI/Bertrand Delesne FRA are 87nm behind and will miss the podium.
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Yesterday, Jean-Pierre Dick/Yann Eliès FRA with their 'Virbac' arrived as first Open 60 in Bahia in a new Transat Jacques Vabre monohull record of 13 days, 7 hours and 36 minutes. This morning UTC, Paul Meilhat/Gwenolé Gahinet FRA crossed the finish line with 6h backlog on 2nd. Morgan Lagravière/Eric Peron FRA will be the next to arrive in the coming hours on 3rd.
The first five Class 40 have left the innertropical convergence zone in the meantime and accelerated again in the southern trade winds. Phil Sharp GBR/Pablo Santurde ESP are still leading 13nm ahead of Aymeric Chappellier/Arthur Le Vaillant FRA, and another mile behind Maxime Sorel/Antoine Carpentier FRA. 1'000nm are left to Bahia.
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The third Class to arrive in Bahia BRA are the IMOCA Open 60. The leading Jean-Pierre Dick/Yann Eliès FRA had 137nm left this morning UTC. The positions on top are clear with Paul Meilhat/Gwenolé Gahinet FRA on the 2nd place 127nm behind. Morgan Lagravière/Eric Peron FRA on 3rd are almost 300nm back.
The leading Class 40 are now about to leave the innertropical convergence zone. Closed up yesterday, the fleet is now again separating more and more. Phil Sharp GBR/Pablo Santurde ESP are now already 18nm in front of Maxime Sorel/Antoine Carpentier FRA. Still contenders for victory are Aymeric Chappellier/Antoine Le Vaillant FRA (backlog 20nm) and Justine Mettraux SUI/Bertrand Delesne FRA (backlog 35nm).
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The winners in the two multihull classes are known and the Open 60 will be next to arrive in Bahia with most likely Jean-Pierre Dick/Yann Eliès FRA on their 'Virbac' crossing the ling as first by tomorrow evening. The second-ranked Paul Meilhat/Gwenolé Gahinet FRA were almost 100nm behind this morning UTC.
In the Class 40, Justine Mettraux SUI/Bertrand Delesne FRA were the team of the day with an Etmal of 160nm, and in the middle of the Doldrums, they are now up on rank 3 only 2,5nm behind the still leading Aymeric Chappellier/Arthur Le Vaillant FRA.
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At press deadline this morning (6h UTC), 'Arkema' with Lalou Roucayrol FRA/Alex Pella ESP crossed the finish line in Bahia BRA as winner of the Multi 50s. The Ultime-Trimaran of Lionel Lemonchois FRA/Bernard Stamm SUI expected before did not finish as at 18.15h UTC, their Tri 'Prince de Bretagne' dismasted just 93 miles from the finish line of the Transat Jacques Vabre.
In the Open 60s, Jean-Pierre Dick/Yann Eliès FRA have left the Doldrums behind defending their lead of 76nm on Paul Meilhat/Gwenole Gahinet FRA.
The Class 40 have reached the innertropical convergence zone this morning, and the fleet is closing up. Phil Sharp GBR/Pablo Santurde ESP are only 5nm in front of Maxime Sorel/ Antoine Carpentier FRA.
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Next to arrive in Bahia after the two Ultime-Trimarans 'Sodebo' and 'Edmond de Rothschild' - both Foiler Trimarans of the latest generation - are Lionel Lemonchois FRA/Bernard Stamm SUI with their old-design Tri expected in the night on tomorrow.
The decison in the Multi 50 seems clear, as the 2nd-ranked 'FenétréA' of Erwan Leroux/Vincent Riou FRA has apparently technical problems and stopped. With 550nm to the finish, Lalou Roucayrol FRA/Alex Pella ESP are now 112nm in front. They will arrive tomorrow morning as well.
No change in the Open 60: Jean-Pierre Dick/Yann Eliès FRA lead with a solid 78nm advantage.
The frist three in the Class 40 were separated by 0,4nm only this morning with Phil Sharp GBR/Pablo Santurde ESP on top.
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The line honours at the Transat Jacques Vabre 2017 went to Thomas Coville/Jean-Luc Nélias FRA ! As expected yesterday, the experienced round-the-world record holder Coville with Nélias as co-skipper on their Ultime-Trimaran crossed the finish line as first after 7 days and 22 hours. With a 1h 48min backlog arrived Sébastien Josse/Thomas Rouxel FRA in Bahia BRA.
In the Multi 50, the Doldrum passage brought about a leader change. Within 24 hours, Lalou Roucayrol FRA/Alex Pella ESP transformed a 44-mile-deficit into a 40mn advantage. Erwan Leroux/Vincent Riou FRA stalled in the innertropical convergence zone for too long.
The first Open 60 to be decelerated was 'Virbac' with Jean-Pierre Dick/Yann Eliès FRA earfly this morning UTC. Her advantage of 37nm on Paul Meilhat/Gwenolé Gahinet FRA will melt even more during the day.
In the Class 40, Phil Sharp GBR/Pablo Santurde ESP reclaimed the first place. Maxime Sorel/Antoine Carpentier FRA follow 6nm behind. Aymeric Chappellier/Arthur Le Vaillant FRA 9nm back are not far away.
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The leaders in the Ultime Trimarans Thomas Coville/Jean-Luc Nélias FRA will arrive at Bahia BRA before noon as winners of the Transat Jacques Vabre 2017. 107nm before the finish line, they have an advantage on the 2nd-ranked Sébastien Josse/Thomas Rouxel FRA of 54nm. The other classes will be underway for some more days.
Erwan Leroux/Vincent Riou FRA, leader in the Multi 50 have 1'335nm left to the finish. Lalou Roucayrol FRA/Alex Pella ESP 46nm behind have still a chance to win the race. Both trimarans were in the Doldrums this morning and trailed at speeds around 6kn.
The Open 60 are about to reach the innertropical convergence zone as well without position changes: Jean-Pierre Dick/Yann Eliès FRA are 62nm ahead of Paul Meilhat/Gwenolé Gahinet FRA.
In the Class 40, Maxime Sorel/Antoin Le Carpentier FRA have replaced Phil Sharp/Pablo Santurde ESP on top of the rankings, but the advantage on the 2nd was only 1,2nm. Only 10nm farther back, Aymeric Chappellier/Arthur Le Voayant FRA follow closely.
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The two big Ultime-Trimarans 'Sodebo' (Thomas Coville/Jean Luc Nélias FRA) and 14nm back 'Edmond de Rothschild' (Sébastien Josse/Thomas Rouxel FRA) are chasing direction Brazil pushed by the southern trade winds at speeds around 30kn. 700nm are left to the finish line that will be reached by tomorrow noon.
The Multi 50 are the next to cross the Doldrums, but considering the substantial gaps between the boats, the rankings will most probably not change. Erwan Leroux/Vincent Riou FRA is 112nm ahead of Lalou Roucayrol FRA/Alex Pella ESP.
Also in the Open 60, the boats are separated considerably. Jean-Pierre Dick/Yann Eliès are 65nm in front of Paul Meilhat/Gwenolé Gahinet FRA.
In the Class 40 however, the leading trio remained closely together with Phil Sharp GBR/Pablo Santurde ESP 12nm ahead of Maxime Sorel/Antoine Carpentier FRA.
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After five day's racing, clearly defined leading groups have separated from the bulk of the fleets in all four Classes.
In the big Ultime Trimarans, Thomas Coville/Jean-Luc Nélias FRA are on the first place 17nm ahead of Sébastien Josse/Thomas Rouxel FRA. They both enter the innertropical convergence zone today and position changes will be possible.
Only separated by 1,6nm are the leading Multi-50-Trimaran: Lalou Roucayrol FRA/Alex Pella ESP defended their lead on Erwan Le Roux/Vincent Riou FRA.
Jean-Pierre Dick/Yann Eliès FRA extended their lead in the Open 60s on 47nm. New on rank 2 are Paul Meilhat/Gwenolé Gahinet FRA, and another 10nm behind follow Morgan Lagravière/Eric Péron FRA. Alan Roura SUI/Fréderic Denis FRA remain on the 10th place.
In the Class 40, a group of four distanced the rest of the fleet. Phil Sharp GBR/Pablo Santurde ESP lead 25nm ahead of Maxim Sorel/Antoine Carpentier FRA. Justine Mettraux SUI/Bertrand Delesne FRA on rank 4 are 50nm behind.
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While the leading two Ultime-Trimarans have already passed the Acores - 'Prince de Bretagne', the third Ultime with Lionel Lemonchois FRA/Bernard Stamm SUI is far behind after a broken main halyard - the Class 40 at the end of the fleet jus passed Cape Finisterre at the most northwestern point of Spain.
Regarding the positions in the different classes, the overall leading Ultime 'Edmond de Rothschild' with Sébastien Josse/Thomas Rouxel FRA kept her advantage on 'Sodebo' with Thomas Coville/Jean-Luc Nélias FRA on 54nm.
The Multi 50 fleet is still controlled by Lalou Roucayrol FRA/Alex Pella ESP 25nm ahead of Erwan Leroux/Vincent Riou FRA.
Stable also the gaps between the leading IMOCA Open 60 with Jean-Pierre Dick/Yann Eliès FRA on first 26nm ahead of Morgan Lagravière/Eric Peron FRA and Paul Meilhat/Gwenolé Gahinet FRA. Alan Roura SUI/Fréderic Denis FRA are on rank 10 with a 86nm deficit.
New leaders in the Class 40 are Paul Sharp GBR/Pablo Santurde ESP 12nm in front of Louis Duc/Alexis Loison FRA. Justine Mettraux SUI/Bertrand Delesne FRA 40nm behind moved up on rank 4.
The race tracker, the news and the video of the day on board of 'Prince de Bretagne' (Lemonchois/Stamm).

Sébastien Josse/Thomas Rouxel FRA on their foiling Maxi-Trimaran race at high-speed around 30kn direction Brazil passing Cape Finisterre during the past night already. Thomas Coville/Jean-Luc Nélias FRA on rank 2 in the Ultimes are already 52nm behind. Lionel Lemonchois FRA/Bernard Stamm SUI on an old-generation Maxi Trimaran are over 200nm back.
In the Open 60s the gaps between the leading boats are much smaller: Jean-Pierre Dick/Yann Eliès FRA remain on top 13nm ahead of Paul Meilhat/Gwenole Gahinet FRA. New on rank 3 are Isabelle Joschke/Pierre Brasseur GER/FRA.
In the Class 40, Aymeric Chappelier/Arthur Le Vaillant FRA are the new leaders 1,8nm ahead of Louis Duc/Alexis Loison FRA.
First in the Multi 50 rankings are still Lalou Roucayrol FRA/Alex Pella ESP 21nm in front of Armel Tripon/Vincent Barnaud FRA now on 2nd.
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The four Classes engaged in the 2017 Transat Jacques Vabre departed in Le Havre FRA yesterday afternoon in moderate winds.
The big Ultime-Trimarans were as expected the ones that set the pace and the favorite 'Edmond de Rothschild' (watch the onboard video with Sébastien Josse/Thomas Rouxel FRA had taken the initial lead thanks to her foils. But in the slackening wind during the night, 'Sodebo' with Thomas Coville/Jean-Luc Nélias FRA moved up on top. Lionel Lemonchois FRA/Bernard Stamm SUI with 'Prince de Bretagne' on 3rd are already 54nm behind.
The IMOCA Open 60 will be passing Brittany this morning with the three foiling Opens leading. Jean-Pierre Dick/Yann Eliès FRA are first 4nm ahead of Morgan Lagravière/Eric Peron FRA, and another 2nm back Boris Herrmann GER/Thomas Rouxel FRA on 3rd.
In the Class 40, Louis Duc/Alexis Loison FRA are on top.
The fleet of the six Multi 50 is lead by Lalou Roucayol FRA/Alex Pella ESP.
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Tomorrow, the start to the Transat Jacques Vabre, the Atlantic Crossing for two-person teams from Le Havre FRA to Bahia BRA, will be given for 5 different Classes. The largest fleet with 16 teams are the Class 40. Spectacular will be the race of the three Ultime trimarans. In the IMOCA Open 60 13 boats will be on the starting line. Six boats participate in the Multi 50-trimarans with the Vendée Globe winner Vincent Riou FRA for the first time on a multihull.
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