Small gains for big ambitions

Recovery time is over and it’s time for Tom and Gildas to head back out to the open seas.

This Saturday at 2:00pm (Irish Time) the second and final leg of L’Aventura will commence taking sailors 783-miles back up to the Île d’Yeu.

A different profile from the long diagonal route via the Madeira archipelago they faced in leg one. Instead, they must beat up the Portuguese coast in winds that could reach 20–25 knots, navigate a transition zone off northern Spain and finally unleash the boat’s speed on a downwind run to the finish.

“It should go pretty fast, about five or six days, we are both well rested and so we’re heading back out in good shape.” And they will need to be, while shorter it will be a lot more intense.

“I don’t really see any major strategic choices. The main thing will be getting a good start, because the opening phase is crucial. We should have fairly light winds at the start, then the breeze should gradually fill in from ahead. After that, it’s about picking the right tacks along the Iberian Peninsula and sailing well.” Explained Tom.

A high-intensity game of incremental gains, with the likelihood that the fleet will remain tightly packed right to the end. And for Tom and Gildas sitting in fourth place after the opening leg having regained their speed and seamless coordination, staying in contention is crucial for the pair.

“The idea is simply to sail well, do things the way we know how and then see how it turns out.”

If the forecasts hold true, the finish should take place on Thursday off the Île d’Yeu. Between now and then, every opportunity will be worth seizing even the smallest one.