Louis Duc’s gamble in the south sees him finish second in New York City - Bravo Louis
“ It was Duc’s aim to better his fourth place finish in the 2008 Artemis Transat”
20.05.2016
At 14:24 BST today, Louis Duc aboard Carac crossed The Transat bakerly finish line second in the Class40 division.
Taking part in his second Transat in 2016 it was Duc’s aim to better his fourth place finish in the 2008 Artemis Transat – the last edition of the race eight years ago.
Today the Frenchman completes his mission, sailing 3947nm from Plymouth to New York at an average speed of 9.15 knots, Duc has earned himself the second Class40 podium position after 17 days, 23 hours, 54 minutes and 40 seconds at sea.
As the Class40 fleet followed the classic route north across Atlantic to New York, they were plagued by violent storms followed by areas of no wind and bone shaking waves – conditions that saw Armel Tripon and Isabelle Joschke have to retire with damage to their boats.
Keeping one eye on the multihull classes sweeping across the southern Atlantic on the tradewinds as his boat was battered by the storms, Duc took a dramatic drop south towards fairer conditions.
It was a risk for the skipper, taking a long route in potentially lighter conditions it could have cost him in miles. But it was a decision that paid off for Duc, putting him contention for the win in the final stages of the race.
This morning Duc sails into Manhattan Class40 runner up, just 11 hours 11 minutes and 44 seconds behind winner Thibaut Vauchel-Camus aboard Solidaires en Peloton-ARSEP.
Having successful crossed the wild Atlantic ocean on his own aboard a 40ft boat, all there is left to do for Duc now is to tuck into his specially requested full English breakfast on arrival in New York.
Bon appétit Louis!
“I’m very happy to arrive in New York. I know all not all of the Class40s will make it here because they have broken their boats, so for me it’s really great to be here. I finished in second position, which is a very good place - but it’s not enough! So I will return to The Transat to win!”
