At the end of a thrilling ride through the Groix channels, it was ultimately VULNERABLE - Sam Goodchild who emerged victorious in the final and won the Runs of this 2024 Azimut Challenge - Lorient Agglomération. In this fast-paced session, despite rather unpredictable conditions, one had to be both opportunistic and efficient. Here’s the story of an exhilarating afternoon!

"The runs are fun, even if we always find them too short!" said Romain Attanasio (Fortinet - Best Western) this morning before leaving the dock, happy to be in pool B with winds expected to "pick up as the afternoon progresses." And indeed, after the first runs of pool A, where frontrunners included Charal (Jérémie Beyou), VULNERABLE - Sam Goodchild, and Team Guyot Environnement Water Family (Benjamin Dutreux), the wind gained strength, and the pace picked up along the 1.2-mile stretch set crosswind between Pointe du Talud and Port Lay (Ile de Groix).

In these ideal medium-wind conditions, speed gaps were significant, with the daggerboard boats being almost twice as slow. Forced into a more traditional progression, they enjoyed the spectacular show as they made their way back to the line, as noted by a gracious Manu Cousin (Coup de Pouce), pleased to have "shared the sight of foilers flying at mach 1000" with his two guests, and proud of having set the best time for daggerboard boats with Lazare. Shortly before 3 p.m., it was Charlie Dalin on Macif Santé Prévoyance who won pool A after his second run, reaching speeds of over 23 knots.

© Jean-Louis Carli / Aléa

Rock 'n Run

The bright sunshine of early afternoon gave way to overcast skies, and with winds ranging from 17 to 20 knots over a choppy sea, the pace intensified as charged-up crews took over the racecourse. Initiatives Cœur (Samantha Davies) excelled in this game, posting the fastest time with impressive flight stability. In a different style, MACSF (Isabelle Joschke) challenged the weight of the years, rising high on the water, proving that even this 2007 veteran could compete with the best. But one had to be opportunistic and take advantage of the breeze because by 4 p.m., the sun reappeared, and the wind eased significantly, dampening the energy of all the competitors. The results: Initiatives Cœur (Sam Davies), VULNERABLE - Thomas Ruyant, MACSF (Isabelle Joschke), and Paprec Arkéa (Yoann Richomme) all qualified for the grand final.

© Jean-Louis Carli / Aléa

A Final with No Contest

With the wind shifting to 310°, the race committee had to set up a new course, giving the eight finalists a moment to catch their breath before the line reopened at 4:40 p.m. After an aborted run by Charal, VULNERABLE - Sam Goodchild's first attempt in a small squall proved the fastest, showing that nothing is ever guaranteed in the IMOCA class. It also demonstrated that the 2019 Verdier designs, with their flat hulls, remain formidable in calm seas! In fact, this marks the first time since 2018 that a non-latest-generation boat has won the Azimut Runs.

Behind VULNERABLE, Macif Santé Prévoyance and Charal rounded out the podium.

© Jean-Louis Carli / Aléa

THEY SAID:

Sam Goodchild, winner:

"The Défi Azimut is such a fantastic event. Our partner Advens is here with quite a few guests, and we had a great day on the water. We had sunshine, the right amount of wind to allow us to fly without it being dangerous. The conditions were good, and we had perfect timing for our final run, and it ended well! The Runs are only two minutes long, the complete opposite of a Vendée Globe, but it's always a thrill to go faster than the others!"

"We won because the crew is excellent, especially Antoine Koch, who was a huge help. But more importantly, we had the right timing, as the wind shifted afterward, and the angle was less favorable. Tomorrow, it's a completely different program. We’re heading out for 48 hours solo, but with an onboard reporter and a lookout. It's a Vendée Globe-like navigation, and it’s a chance to check everything on board!"