After a first day marked by gusts exceeding 35 knots, Alexia Barrier found calmer conditions on the Rhum Route 2026. The Nice navigator is now near a weather front and is waiting to see how it evolves before deciding on the strategy to adopt for the rest of the crossing.
The night proceeded in rather favorable conditions for Alexia Barrier. As a weather front approached, the winds gradually weakened, reducing the boat’s speed and giving the navigator time to recover. A calm period used to regain strength before the next navigation decisions.
« The night went rather well, it was quite calm at the end of the night, as the front approached with winds easing. So a slower speed and I took the opportunity to continue to regain strength », she explains.
For now, no major maneuvers are planned. The Antibes navigator prefers to observe the evolution of weather conditions before choosing which sails to use and which course to take. Work carried out in coordination with her team on shore, who is also monitoring the situation.
The preparation for crossing the front, however, did not go as planned. Alexia Barrier had anticipated the different stages hour by hour from 5 o’clock in the morning, but actual conditions changed the scenario: « It just shows that I really love this sport, it’s not us who call the shots, really, it’s always the elements that have the final say. »
The situation therefore remains uncertain. Near the front, Alexia Barrier does not yet know if she will be able to cross it directly or if another option will need to be chosen. At the time of her message, the wind was blowing at 7 knots, while the boat was moving at 12 knots.
This waiting period also allows her to prepare for what’s next, take care of herself, tidy up her boat and prepare the next sails likely to be raised to gain speed. Currently, the Maralpine aboard IDEC Sport CIC is still classified in 7th position about sixty nautical miles behind Charles Caudrelier.
A departure that moved Alexia Barrier
Beyond the weather choices and navigation constraints, Alexia Barrier also reflected on her departure from the Rhum Route 2026. The navigator has a special memory of this moment shared with her team, who remained on shore to follow her progress and monitor sea conditions.
« This Rhum Route departure was fantastic. I don’t know if you had the chance to follow it on TV, but I was so moved aboard IDEC Sport CIC with my team on shore keeping watch », she shares.
The race is followed notably through satellite images, which allow her team to monitor weather conditions and support her strategic decisions.
While waiting to see how the front evolves, Alexia Barrier is taking advantage of this calm period to recover and prepare her boat. The rest of her progress will depend mainly on the weather and the option chosen to cross this area either by skirting the Azores or heading west.
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