🚧 Scheduled stopover for Armel Le Cléac'h!

There's a long way to go and the whole team will be doing their utmost to get Armel and the Maxi Banque Populaire XI back into the race as quickly as possible.
Ronan Lucas, Manager of Team Banque Populaire

During this pit-stop, the members of Team Banque Populaire will be taking the opportunity to rectify an anomaly discovered in the hydraulics of the foil system. The boat is expected in Recife between tonight and tomorrow morning (French time) by part of the shore crew. The rules authorise technical stops if they last a minimum of 24 hours. In accordance with the notice of race, the team will have to make at least one stopover of this duration before setting sail again.

Ronan Lucas, Team Banque Populaire Director:
"We took the decision to stop with Armel, following the incident that occurred as we exited the storm, which deprived us of the large gennaker and, what's more, tore off the boat's balcony. It was unthinkable to attack the Southern Ocean without this important safety element for manoeuvres at the front of the boat. Since then, while we were on our way to Recife, Armel noticed a problem with the foil raising/lowering system, which is preventing us from using it and which reinforces the importance of a stopover, even with a 24-hour penalty. We're all a little disappointed by this mishap, even though we didn't have a single incident in the Transat Jacques Vabre".

Racing since 13h30 on Sunday 7th January in this first edition of the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE - Brest, Armel Le Cléac'h was in fourth place before deciding to make a stopover. The skipper of the Maxi Banque Populaire XI crossed the equator this Sunday morning and is now heading for the coast of Brazil. He is the first sailor in this round the world race to make a stopover, as the rules allow.