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760 milles left to Guadeloupe
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Mark is now 760 miles from Guadeloupe, with 70% of the course behind him.
Just a few more days at sea. He’s expected to arrive early next week, most likely between Monday and Tuesday.
He’s been sailing fast over the past few days, with stronger trade winds helping the miles fly by. That must have been good for morale, even if not exactly restful.
At the front of the fleet, the first prototype boats are expected to arrive this Saturday, with the leading serie boats following on Sunday evening or Monday morning. |
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Life on board
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| Temperatures, both air and water, have continued to rise over the past few days, making life on board anything but easy. The salty humidity takes a toll on the skin, and the body must be feeling the strain.
Speaking of strain… let’s talk about sleep.
At night, the race doesn’t stop. The wind and waves make no distinction, carrying the boat forward mile after mile.
So, no chance for a full 8-hour night. Mark has to rely on short naps : 20 to 40 minutes at a time, waking regularly to check that everything is in order on deck, that no other boats are on a collision course, that the wind hasn’t shifted, and that the boat is still properly trimmed.
Sometimes, conditions are too unstable or demanding for the autopilot, so naps have to wait. Finding the right balance between rest and performance is essential. When lucidity fades, mistakes can happen—and in offshore racing, they can be serious. Most skippers have experienced hallucinations during long races, simply due to exhaustion.
Since the start of the crossing, Mark seems to be in his element at sea, managing his fatigue with skill and composure. |
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Current Standings and Strategic Moves
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Mark is currently positioned toward the northern edge of the fleet.
With the wind now coming from due east, he’s having to alternate gybes to make progress toward Guadeloupe.
He’s maintained the strong pace of recent days and is holding his place in the top 25!
According to the latest reports, the wind remains quite unstable, especially in strength, which makes conditions on board particularly demanding. Mark has to adjust the sails frequently and stay alert to take over from the autopilot whenever the changes become too abrupt.
We don’t have precise details, but a nearby competitor dismasted yesterday morning. Fortunately, all is well on board, and he’s continuing toward Guadeloupe with a jury rig. It’s a clear sign that conditions out there are intense! |
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Upcoming Weather and Tactical Choices
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In these final days of racing, the wind is expected to remain in the same general pattern.
Mark will need to keep playing with its instability to find the best angles and make the most of each tack.
As he gets closer to Guadeloupe, he’ll start encountering squalls, cloud formations packed with strong winds and often heavy rain. Anticipating these squalls is key, as they can be violent and cause damage on board.
Focus will be essential all the way to the finish |
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Follow the entire race via the live tracking map :
Just look for boat number 946 – MINI SKIPPY in the “SERIE” ranking. |
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