Solo Basse Normandie– British secure top positions for Artemis Academy

by Artemis Offshore Academy on 31 Mar 2015 Solo Basse Normandie – It’s hard to know what’s more intense – sailing a 24 hour race through rough seas, huge tide and gusting winds against some of the best solo sailors in the world, or having your faced glued to a computer screen for 24 hours, tracking the progress of the Artemis Offshore Academy’s Figaro fleet during their first race of the season.

Both activities are similar in the fact that both solo skippers and trackers must strategically plan when to maneuver, eat, rest and use the loo. For the skippers, this is because of weather, the competition and having 33ft of racing yacht to control. For the armchair spectators (specifically the Academy’s shore crew), it’s because the tracker is updated every ten minutes and every ten minutes the Academy’s Alumni and Rookies were upping the anti in the 188 mile Solo Basse Normandie – finally seeing Nick Cherry (Redshift) (ninth) and Jack Bouttell (GAC Concise) (tenth) finish top ten, Sam Matson (Chatham) (12th) climb an amazing 12 places in 12 hours and 2015 Rookies Robin Elsey (Artemis 43) (18th, first Rookie) and Andrew Baker (Artemis 23) (20th, third Rookie) finish on the Rookie podium.

Starting and finishing in Granville, France the Solo Basse-Normandie course was intensely physical with a barrage of weather and tide to boot. Add to that a last minute course change the night before the start, and the race was a real opener to the Classe Figaro Bénéteau season for both seasoned competitors and newcomers alike. Undeterred by the challenges that lay ahead, there was a great mood in the British camp ahead of the race, one of both anticipation and preparation – the skippers excited to start and ready to perform. Battling through tide, waves, rain, thunderstorms and between rocks in up to 30 knots of wind from Granville around Jersey and back again, the Solo Basse-Normandie fleet finished in Granville on Saturday 28th March.

Double Solitaire du Figaro winner Yann Elies (Groupe Queguiner – Leucemie Espoir) took line honors by a whisker – just 18 seconds ahead of second place Charlie Dalin (Skipper Macif 2015). Redshift skipper Nick Cherry put the ‘Cherry on top’ for the British team, dicing with the leading pack for the duration of the race and eventually finishing ninth of 24 competitors, just 15 seconds behind Isabelle Joschke (Generali Horizon Mixité) in eighth: “It was a pretty tough course with lots of changes in the wind and a lot of sail changes to be done,” an exhausted Nick relayed on the dock. “Starting off nearer the front of the fleet gave me a lot of motivation to work hard and stay there, so I didn’t get much sleep – I’m pretty broken now. Going round Jersey was pretty windy. I kept putting off changing to my smaller jib, when in hindsight I should have changed about two hours before. But you can’t come racing without learning something. I had a pretty good start, but then made plenty of mistakes so I’ve still got a lot to learn. But I’m really pleased with my result, satisfied.”

Fellow Academy Alumni skipper Jack Bouttell also made the top ten (tenth), having only sailed his Figaro for a few training trips ahead of the race. Just three seconds separated Jack in tenth and Yoann Richomme (Skipper Macif 2014) in 11th after 188 miles. Filled with confidence after a stint with Volvo Ocean Race team Dongfeng Race Team, Jack has mentor Charles Caudreliers’ own Solitaire du Figaro winning Figaro 19 this season. Charles sent his congratulations from aboard Dongfeng after the leg, also joking that perhaps he needs to up the charter price of his speedy boat. Chatham skipper Sam Matson was the next British skipper over the line. After a bad start that saw Sam trailing the fleet, through sheer grit, determination and maintaining consistent boat speed while the rest of the skippers flagged or slept, Sam climbed a mammoth 12 places in 12 hours to see him finish 12th overall. He’s done it before and he’s done it again: “I’m pretty happy with how it all went, although the start didn’t go my way, the rest of my race was pretty good. I’ve got to go home now a write up my notes on it all and see where I can improve and know what to work on next time.”

Establishing himself in the top ten early on, Henry Bomby (Rockfish Red) had a great race, eventually finishing in 13th just behind Sam in 12th. Although happy with his race, Henry was a little disappointed with his result after dropping a few places on the final beat to the finish line. Magma Structures skipper Alan Roberts was next in 16th, also climbing places from the back over 24 hours and finishing just 17 seconds ahead of experienced French skipper and Solitaire du Figaro leg winner, Alexis Loison (Groupe Fiva). Academy Rookie Robin Elsey finished 18th overall, landing himself the ‘Premiere Bizuth’ title: “It was pretty intense race because there were lots of corners. It got pretty breezy around the back of Jersey and that was quite a challenge, but it was good fun. I finished first Rookie, which is what I set as my goal before the start. Everyone wants to win the title and I’m sure it’s everyone’s aim ahead of the race, so I’m very proud to have won it in my first race. Feels great.” Making it a double on the Rookie podium, Andrew Baker finished 20th overall and third Rookie while Rob Bunce finished 23rd. The youngest competitor in the fleet, Rob admitted he was looking forward to a beer and hug after finishing his first solo Figaro race.

Next in the Classe Figaro Bénéteau calendar is the Solo Mâitre Coq in April, starting from Les Sables d’Olonne, home of the Vendée Globe.

The Solo Basse Normandie results:

1. Yann Elies, Queguiner Leucémie Espoir
2. Charlie Dalin, Skipper Macif 2015
3. Thierry Chabagny, Gedimat
4. Paul Meilhat, SMA
5. Sebastien Simon/Bretagne Credit Mutuel Espoir
6. Alain Gautier, Generali
7. Gwénolé Gahinet, Safran – Guy Cotten
8. Isabelle Joschke, Generali Horizon Mixité
9. Nick Cherry, Redshift
10. Jack Bouttell, GAC Concise
11. Yoann Richomme, Skipper MACIF 2014
12. Sam Matson, Chatham
13. Henry Bomby, Rockfish Red
14. Adrien Hardy, Agir Recouvrement - one day, six hours, nine minutes
15. Corentin Horeau, Bretagne Credit Mutuel Performance
16. Alan Roberts, Magma Structures
17. Alexis Loison, Groupe Fiva - one day, six hours, eight minutes
18. Robin Elsey*, Artemis 43
19. Benoît Mariette*, Entrepose
20. Andrew Baker*, Artemis 23
21. Martin Le Pape*, Ovimpex Secours Populaire
22. Claire Pruvot, Port de Caen Ouistreham
23. Rob Bunce*, Artemis 37
24. Sophie Faguet*, Region Basse-Normandie