French teams battle for lead in Istanbul Europa race

Two French teams, one skippered by Michel Desjoyeaux, the other by Roland Jourdain, occupy the top two positions in the Istanbul Europa race, separated by barely ten miles.  Heading into the final stretch of the race, conditions are forecast to lighten, even as crews battle the fierce tides of the English channel.  
From BYM News.com:

The fleet will soon head into British waters where massive tidal influences are at play, alongside the additional complication of strong and changeable currents. The return passage through the English Channel awaits the fleet after rounding the Brittany mark where the first teams are expected this evening… The Istanbul Europa Race is drawing to a close, and the outcome of this third and final leg that started in Barcelona last Monday is still uncertain. Michel Desjoyeaux and Roland Jourdain’s teams are currently 280 miles from the finish line; both teams having stretched out ahead of the others after rounding Cape Finisterre. However a completely unexpected twist in the meteorological conditions may now put what seemed to be a solid lead on tenterhooks. 

By Ocean Navigator