Fastnet: check!

After a relatively rapid climb from the Scilly Isles to the Celtic Sea, Giancarlo Pedote and Martin Le Pape – accompanied by Martina Orsini, the on-board reporter -, were tacking their way along the south coast of Ireland early this morning in their bid to make the Fastnet lighthouse. “We’re in a phase of light airs. The current is just about on the turn and we’re close to slack water, which is pretty good as it’s enabling us to weave along without too many obstacles”, commented the skipper of Prysmian Group, this Tuesday, shortly before rounding the legendary rock. The duo made their rounding shortly before 08:30 UTC and are now entering the second leg of the race. “Conditions for the return leg are forecast to be rather nice, with a breeze that’s not too strong, enabling us to ease the sheets slightly with reaching sails. There’s still a fair amount of uncertainty with regards the finish in Cherbourg however. Things have time to evolve in the meantime, so we’ll be keeping a close eye on the situation, but it’ll likely be the icing on the cake in this Rolex Fastnet Race”, indicated the Italian sailor who is currently lying in 9th place in the IMOCA ranking.