19:00 Sunday 27 July 2025
Whisper is leading the standings in IRC Zero © James Tomlinson/RORC
David Griffith’s considerable efforts to transport Whisper half way across the world from Australia are so far being well rewarded on the race course. For much of Sunday, the Judel/ Vrolijk 62 has led the standings in IRC Zero. “We’re happy with where we are right now,” said Griffith, who paid tribute to the strong double act of his crew boss/tactician Peter ‘Billy’ Merrington and navigator Clare Costanzo. “We’re in a nice spot, the boat’s going well, the crew’s going well. Billy and Clare are making some great calls between them.”
They’re relieved to have emerged in good shape from the difficult dilemma at the Scilly Isles. Whisper made a late call to head west, with Jens Kellinghusen’s Ker 56 Varuna 6 hot on her heels. Adrien, Christophe Bachmann’s historic 26-metre offshore sloop, was the first to try the more northerly route up the eastern side of the Scillies. It’s been a big discussion point and head-scratcher for all the teams.
The newly launched Palanad goes through her paces © James Tomlinson/RORC
Sitting behind Whisper in second place in the IRC Zero standings is Palanad 4, campaigned by Antoine Magre’s Proto 50 designed by Sam Manuard. “All good on board,” said Manuard on Sunday afternoon. “We had a good start yesterday despite the light winds in the Western Solent. The stronger breeze at Hurst allowed us to have some speed tests against the Admiral’s Cup boats, which was very positive.
“Saturday evening was great for us with a steady 15-18 knots breeze as we overtook many of our competitors, showing the boat’s potential. We are very much still in discovery mode with the boat as it was launched exactly a week ago but very happy with our race so far and hoping for a little more wind for the rest of the race so that we can show what the scow bow excitement is all about.”
Swan 76 La Loevie © Rick Tomlinson/RORC
Neck and neck with Palanad 4 on corrected time is La Loevie, the Swan 76 being campaigned by round-the-world veteran Jean-Pierre Dick sailing with Eric Defert. They sit in third place ahead of a German team skippered by Klaas Höpcke, sailing an Elliott 52, Rafale.
A young team on Haspa Hamburg © Paul Wyeth/RORC
Further back in the standings but pushing hard are Haspa Hamburg, the Judel/Vrolijk 52 with a predominantly youth team on board. Skipper Laurids Von Emden said: “We’ve had some very good speeds at times, almost reaching at certain points, which was quite fun. We’re making good progress but today is the big decision, the sticky TSS around the Scilly Isles. Most boats are currently going west, but we have other plans. Let’s see.”
Le Cigare Rouge in the Solent © James Tomlinson/RORC
A former winner of the Volvo Ocean Race almost 20 years ago with Team ABN Amro, Sidney Gavignet has spent a career fighting for the top places. But aboard the classic but still racy ocean-going ketch, Le Cigare Rouge, he’s relaxed to be closer to the back of the division standings. “I used to be a sailor who was mad for performance but now I feel more balance. Offshore sailing is a fantastic laboratory for human relationships, and it’s also important to remember that what we do is just a game. The result is totally secondary. What’s more important is giving people the opportunity to experience what it’s like to sail on board a racing yacht like this.”
Meanwhile, back up front of the pack, and current leader David Griffith had not expected such benign conditions in the Celtic Sea. “It’s absolutely magnificent, like being in the Med,” he said. “It’s not a lumpy sea, it’s quite a nice wave formation, but the breeze is up and down a bit, sometimes down to six knots, then up to nine and a half, swinging through about 30 degrees of wind shift at times. But Billy and Clare are really good at working a good path through the shifts.”
Griffith needs to keep up the good work however. “I’ve got a flight out of Paris on Tuesday night, so I want to get to the finish as soon as possible,” he laughed. “There’s no helicopter coming for me, so hopefully we get there in good time.”
