Sea, Sail & Surf news

Du grand large à la plage : Toute l’actualité des sports de glisse depuis 2000

Solitaire du Figaro

Solo skippers set sails from Pauillac for the leg 1 of the Solitaire 2013

dimanche 2 juin 2013Information Solitaire du Figaro

Toutes les versions de cet article : [English] [français]

Under blue skies thousands of people packed the river banks and dozens of spectators boats saluted the 41 skippers leaving for the first stage of one month and 1,938 miles of racing. Paul Meilhat (Skipper Macif 2011) was in the early lead, but the course to Portugal is still long and will be full of hurdles

The competitors in the 44th Solitaire du Figaro Solitaire du Figaro #LaSolitaire -Eric Bompard cachemire left the pretty village of Paulliac today, heading for Porto, on the northern Portuguese coast. Before making to the river estuary and getting into the open ocean they delighted the local crowds and supporters, gathered to wave them goodbye, racing on a coastal course of around 10 miles.

In ideal wind conditions, a 10 to 12 knots breeze from the north, double past winner Jérémie Beyou (Maitre Coq) made the best start at the Committee end of the line, but shortly after the signal the fleet split in two groups, one sailing off the northern bank and the other, led by Frédéric Duthil (Sepalumic), picking up to the south side.

Both groups had to fight against the river’s idiosyncrasies and a strong current forcing all skippers to tack several times. First to go around the upwind mark was Frédéric Duthil (Sepalumic), chased down by Jean-Pierre Nicol (Bernard Controls) and a very determined Nick Cherry (Magma Structures) while the rest of the fleet followed in quick succession.

Once the spinnakers were hoisted, the Figaros pressed on to the next downwind mark where Jean-Pierre Nicol (Bernard Controls) rounded in first, followed by Paul Meilhat (Skipper Macif 2011) whilst Jérémie Beyou (Maître Coq) and Frédéric Duthil (Sepalumic) went for the other mark.

The last passage of the fleet in front of Paulliac produced enthusiastic rounds of applause by the public assembled on the harbour breakwater, with Jérémie Beyou (Maître Coq), Gildas Morvan (Cercle Vert) and Frédéric Duthil (Sepalumic) putting on a show passing just metres off it. Best of the non-French was Nick Cherry, who managed also to keep his position in the top 10 and first rookie was Simon Troël (Les recycleurs Bretons).

According to the first official position report, the leading trio was made of Paul Meilhat (Skipper Macif 2011) Jérémie Beyou (Maître Coq) and race veteran -17 participations- Gildas Morvan (Cercle Vert) although only 1,1 miles were separating the first from the last boat.

The most spectacular comeback was Michel Desjoyeaux’s (TBS) who bounced back from mid-fleet to the 5th place. The three times Solitaire du Figaro Solitaire du Figaro #LaSolitaire winner was followed by Frédéric Duthil, Adrien Hardy, Thierry Chabagny (Gedimat), Vincent Biarnes (Prati’Bûches) and the first non-French skipper, the Briton Nick Cherry in 10th place.

First among the rookies was Simon Troël (Les Recycleurs Bretons) in 13th while the other Anglo-Saxon skippers were Henry Bomby (Rockfish) in 16th, Edmund Hill (Artemis 37) in 20th, Jackson Bouttell (Artemis 77) in 22nd, Sam Goodchid (Sjelterbox – Disaster Relief) in 34th position respectively. David Kenefick (Full Irish), the youngest sailor in this year’s Solitaire, was in 36th place.

The 41 skippers still had some twenty miles to cover before getting to the pointe de Grave and turning SW to head to the Radio France mark, set close to the Cordouan lighthouse that the leaders were expected to reach around 18:30, that is to say more than one hour before the reverse of the current with a nice northerly breeze of a dozen knots.

Next on the menu 350 miles and to Cape Finisterre, in a progressively building breeze forecasted to reach up to 35 knots off Cape Ortega.

Provisional results at mark 38, 23 miles from the pointe du Verdon

  • 1 - Paul Meilhat (Skipper Macif 2011)
  • 2 - Jérémie Beyou (Maître Coq)
  • 3 - Jean Pierre Nicol (Bernard Controls)
  • 4 - Gildas Morvan (Cercle Vert)
  • 5 - Michel Desjoyeaux (TBS)
  • 10 - Nick Cherry (Magma Structures) 1st non French Skipper
  • 13 - Simon Troël (Les Recycleurs Bretons) 1st rookie

Other British skippers :

  • 16 - Henry Bomby (Rockfish)
  • 20 - Edmund Hill (Artemis 37)
  • 22 - Jackson Bouttell (Artemis 77)
  • 34 - Sam Goodchid (Shelterbox – Disaster Relief)
  • 36 - David Kenefick (Full Irish)

Dans la même rubrique

Solitaire du Figaro : Yann Eliès won the Solitaire 33 years after his father

Solitaire du Figaro : Pressure increases for Leg 3 start

Solitaire du Figaro : Gildas Morvan won leg 2 from Gijon to Vendée

Solitaire du Figaro : Yann Eliès is crowned king of Gijon


A la une