Getting the boat into race configuration

The countdown is on. There are less than two days to go now until the starting gun releases the 79 duos competing in the 15th edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre. Whilst the sailors are focusing more and more on the course weather now, especially the conditions forecast for the first few days, the shore teams are busily putting the finishing touches to the last few details aboard the boats. Prysmian Group is all set, as Rémi Fermin, boat captain explains: “All in all, we’re doing very well with the preparations and that’s been the case for a long time. The skippers’ bags, 18 days of food… everything’s already aboard, including the fresh produce, which we loaded yesterday with Martin. What’s left to do now are just the routine elements of any start phase. In this regard, we’re going to scale the mast one last time to thoroughly check all the wands and then tomorrow we get the 60-footer into race mode”, says Rémi. In practical terms, this will include him and Adam removing the deck protection and then the sail covers, bringing the rib alongside the boat and stacking the sails for the opening tacks according to Giancarlo’s instructions. On top of that, they’ll attend a safety briefing for the teams regarding the start procedure and then they’ll give the monohull’s living space one last clean. Needless to say, things are looking shipshape for the team…