Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Beach-Catamaran - Yvan Bourgnon SUI in the North-West Passage - Polar bear alert !
The stormy winds of the past days forced Yvan Bourgnon on his way South along the Canadian coast to hop from bay to bay for shelter. In Qikiqtarjuaq Bay, Bourgnon had the visit of an ice bear during the night, leaning on a hull of his catamaran. A shot with the signal pistol and shouting chased the animal away. The news. Meanwhile, the winds have calmed down and Yvan Bourgnon SUI is now really underway on the last leg of his adventure, the 400 miles' crossing from Canada to Greenland. Check-out the reports and videos on the Bourgnon facebook page.
After weathering the two day's storm moored in a bay, Yvan Bourgnon SUI started to the final part of his adventure ride 400 miles across the open sea direction Greenland. Cold temperatures, fog and drift-ice will accompany him during the coming four days. The stopover in the bay was not very accommodating, as the 60 kn storm lifted the hulls to an extent that he had to constantly hike his beach catamaran even without sails to prevent her from capsizing !. The solution was then to flood the hulls with about 200 litre of water each to stabilise the cat.
After rounding the most northern point of the North-West-Passage, the next big challenge lies ahead: a storm low pressure system with wind speeds of up to 50 kn will pass over East Canada during the weekend. Bourgnon is looking for a appropriate bay to weather the storm. With 0°C water and -7° air temperature, a capsize would be fatal. The board electronics are still out of work as battery reloads are not possible without sun. Moreover, his drinking water supply is frozen ..... Nevertheless, a positive highlight can be reported: the passage of three Nar Whales (photo). 
Yvan Bourgnon SUI succeeded to round the most northern point of the North-West-Passage - the 74° parallel north - in the fourth attempt. In temperatures around -7°C, the Swiss is again forced to constantly steer his beach-cat, as there was not enough sun to load the solar-cells that feed the auto-pilot. Moreover, the main sail is frozen to the mast, and an emergency lowering is not possible, ... and this with a fresh-breeze front announced for the weekend. 
After three failed attempts to cross the drift-ice barrier going far North, Yvan Bourgnon SUI finally succeeded yesterday with his 6-Meter-Beach-Catamaran. At this time of the year, the nights are dark during about 6 hours, and all Bourgnon can do during these hours is to let the cat flow to avoid collisions with the ice. Today, he will reach the most northern point of his journey heading afterwards South to Greenland.
The Figaro Tour de Bretagne ended yesterday with the last leg from Larmor-Plage to Quiberon. A 10th rank was good enough for Nicolas Lunven/Gildas Mahé FRA for the overall victory 7 points ahead of Sébastien Simon/Vincent Riou FRA 2. 
Yesterday, the 27 miles' coastal race from Larmor-Plage to Quiberon FRA was on the program. Sébastien Simon/Vincent Riou FRA finished first and moved up on rank 3 overall. Inspite of an 11th race rank, Nicolas Lunven/Gildas Mahé FRA remain on top with an 8 points' advantage. 
Yesterday, a coastal race around Groix Island was on the program in Larmor Plage. The winners of leg 3 Alexis Loison/Pierre Quiroga FRA finished again as first and moved up on rank 2 overall. Nicolas Lunven/Gildas Mahé FRA remain the undisputed leaders. 
In winds abeam, leg 3 of the Tour de Bretagne over 83 miles from Camara to nach Armor-Plage was a fast ride. Alexis Loison/Pierre Quiroga FRA were the winners improving their overall ranking on position 5. Finishing 2nd, Nicolas Lunven/Gildas Mahé FRA extended their lead on Sébastien Simon/Vincent Riou FRA new on rank 2. 
After the night race, the 24 two-person teams had a lay day yesterday a the Tour de Bretagne. Today, racing will resume in Camarat with leg 3 to Larmor-Plage. Overall leaders are 'Generali' with Nicolas Lunven/Gildas Mahà FRA clearly ahead of 'NF Habitat' with Corentin Douget/Simon Troel FRA. 
During the past night, the third leg of the Tour de Bretagne was on the program, bringing the 24 teams from Lézardrieux around the most western point of Britany to Camaret. This morning at 4 a.m. UTC, 'Generali' with Nicolas Lunven/Gildas Mahé FRA finished first and extended herewith the overall lead. Only 3 minutes later, Corentin Douguet/Simon Troel FRA crossed the finish line as 2nd. 
The Tour de Bretagne began yesterday with a short race and a coastal race around the Brehat Island. The strong current had quite an influence on the race tactics allowing the experienced Nicolas Lunven/Gildas Mahé FRA on 'Generali' to take the interim's lead. This afternoon, the start to leg 3 will be given, the first nocturne race.
