Two of the top IMOCA60 racers will battle it out in the North Atlantic in an attempt to seize the transatlantic monohull single-handed world record.

Zbigniew “Gutek” Gutkowski and Marc Guillemot will push Energa and Safran, respectively, to break Alex Thomson’s 8-day, 22-hour, 8-minute sprint from New York to Cape Lizard, set last summer in preparation for the 2012 Vendee Globe.

This afternoon, Gutkowski and Guillemot set out for the starting line at Ambrose Light in four-foot seas and about 15 knots of wind. Both sailors are banking on a low pressure system promising at least 20 knots of wind, with gusts up to 32.

Estimated start time is about 3 a.m. — until then, perhaps a scrimmage IMOCA60 Match Race at Ambrose.

UPDATE: Safran crossed the start line at 19:19 ET, Energa moments later at 19:31 ET.