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- a scenario that Mike Golding, skipper of Open 60 Ecover described as: "Not uninspiringly nasty." The analysis of various weather models will influence any early tactics and the projected course of the yachts and Golding remarked that the current weather "presents the fleet with lots of options...a perfect platform for the start of The Transat."

Will the skippers head north after clearing Lands End - the western extremity of mainland Britain - and benefit from the easterly winds spinning anti-clockwise around the upper edge of the depression, or will any decisions be moderated by the likely area of tricky and variable conditions found between Monday's low pressure system and the next depression? Conrad Humphreys, skipper on 60ft monohull, Hellomoto, expects a very tactical, initial 72 hours of racing: "I'm concentrating on staying awake and remaining on the right side of any [wind] shifts."

The semi-static, mid-Atlantic 'Azores High' system is predicted to influence any conditions between the low pressure systems and is expected to bring NW winds, backing to SW, from 3-15 knots and a successful interpretation of the additional affects of this ridge of high pressure will be vital to all skippers. Nick Moloney, Australian skipper of 60ft monohull Skandia, expects to meet the ridge early on Wednesday morning: "The ridge is a major focus for me. The conditions are going to be fresh, but not out-of-control fresh." Although the start conditions off Plymouth are of immediate importance and a predicted southwest breeze of 15-20 knots seems almost definite Moloney is cautious about the start: "A collision at the start would be really demoralising and sustaining damage early on would be devastating," adding "I'll be more than happy when we open-up and start to divide."

There will be a large number of vessels present near the start line between Penlee Point and Stadden Heights at 1400 BST tomorrow to watch the fleet begin their transatlantic challenge and Moloney is wise to be cautious; in the 1980 edition of this race (then called the OSTAR), American competitor Tom Grossman on 56ft trimaran Kriter VII, left the helm and went below to fetch his stop-watch minutes before the start and collided with a Spanish yacht entered in the race. Grossman returned to Plymouth and - after some hasty fibreglass repairs - restarted the race and finished 10th overall.

OMEGA AMBASSADOR ANNA KOURNIKOVA TO START RACE:

As one of the official calendar events of the Entente Cordiale's 100th anniversary, The Transat start line will be marked by the Royal Navy's HMS Tyne and her counterpart from the French Navy. There is just one start line for the the entire fleet divided into three zones for the ORMA 60 class, IMOCA Open 60 class and the 50ft class. Omega ambassador and tennis star, Anna Kournikova, will officially start The Transat at 1400 BST from the HMS Tyne to send the 37 skippers off on their 2800 mile solo race to Boston. The fleet will cross the start line and pass the Eddystone Lighthouse to starboard (the first skipper to pass the Eddystone Lighthouse will be rewarded with an Omega Seamaster watch) and then head west to a waypoint position approximately five miles off The Lizard before heading out into the North Atlantic bound for Boston. If any of the boats incur any damage, the skippers are permitted to return to Plymouth for up to three days after the start to make repairs.

BREAKING NEWS ACTIVE AT 1200 TOMORROW :

Follow the start and entire race via the 'Breaking News' pop-up window. This small window can sit open on your desktop and will update automatically. Click on the 'Breaking News' icon on the home page to open the window. Our Media Team will be out on the water for the start providing blow-by-blow reporting from the race course...

http://www.thetransat.com
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