Solitaire du Figaro 2015 course announced
by Artemis Offshore Academy on 10 Dec 2014
Solitaire du Figaro 2015 - Torbay - The Artemis Offshore Academy Rookies training in Torbay in preparation for the Solitaire du Figaro stop over in 2015. Cj crooks/sky to sea media
-202403121603.gif)
Returning to Bordeaux after the grand festival of 2013, the Solitaire du Figaro 2015 will start on the 31st May from the village of Paulliac following a week of pre-start celebrations in the French city. From Bordeaux a fleet of up to 45 33ft Bénéteau Figaro IIs will race 461nm to the Sanxenxo, the Spanish town making its Solitaire du Figaro debut in 2015.
Racing 522nm from Sanxenxo to the Concarneau, the 2015 skippers will finish Leg Two of the race in the familiar French waters of south Brittany. The penultimate 602nm race leg from Concarneau to Torbay will see the fleet once again round the notorious Fastnet Rock off the Irish coast, Lands End, The Lizard, and Berry head before receiving a warm welcome in Torbay as they conclude Leg Three. Echoing the fourth and final leg of the 2013 race, the fleet will make their final charge to the 2015 finish line in Dieppe along the south coast of the UK, but first looping west from Torbay around the Island of Lundy – a 400ft granite outcrop in the Bristol Channel.
'The 2015 edition of the Solitaire du Figaro is set to be a long race covering the largest geographic area the race has seen for many years,' reported Solitaire du Figaro Race Director Gilles Chiorri. 'Sailing as far south as Spain and as north as the UK, the distance will for sure take its toll on the skippers - it will be a tiring and intense solo endurance race. It will be really important for the skippers to pace themselves over the four stages and they’ll need every ounce of their skill to get them to the finish line.'
For the British Artemis Offshore Academy fleet, the 2015 course holds both happy memories and exciting prospects. Starting and finishing the 2013 edition of the race in Bordeaux and Dieppe, Sam Goodchild and Jack Bouttell went on to make British Solitaire history – Sam achieving the best British result in 38 years (11th) and Jack becoming the first winning British Rookie in the history of the race. Inspired by Sam Matson’s outstanding performance in the 2014 edition of the race (15th overall and second Rookie), this year’s British Solitaire du Figaro Rookie’s Robin Elsey, Rob Bunce and Andrew Baker can’t wait to deliver on their potential in the race to Torbay – hopefully boasting a result the home crowds can be proud of: 'The UK stop over will bring with it enormous pride for all of us. Sailing into British waters representing the UK in one of the toughest ocean racing events in the world will be an achievement in itself, but hopefully we’ll see the Brits dominating on the leaderboard,' said a motivated Robin, already looking forward to introducing the race to his friends and family on English soil. 'Torbay and the surrounding area is very beautiful, and the locals are really friendly and supportive. The British team have already been to visit the bay in support of the UK Solitaire du Figaro bid, and now I can’t wait to return with the race next June.'
Mayor of Torbay Gordon Oliver continued: 'The Torbay council and the Royal Torbay Yacht Club were the driving force in securing the stopover in 2015. On top of helping increase the notoriety of Torquay and it’s neighbouring towns of Paignton and Brixham, the Solitaire du Figaro - Eric Bombard Cachemire’s presence in Torbay marks another big chapter in the history of the area for hosting significant sailing events. This started way back in 1948 when that year’s Olympic Regatta was hosted here too. The warmest of welcomes awaits the skippers, the organisers and the visitors to the English Riviera.' The Solitaire du Figaro will descend on Torbay between the 17th and 21st June 2015.
At 2015nm, the 2015 Solitaire du Figaro course is one of the longest in race history and it will take everything in the skippers’ solo offshore arsenal to get them to the finish line. With just over five months to go until the build up begins in Bordeaux, training is underway for the British and French skippers alike. Starting from Paulliac downriver from the host city, Bordeaux on the 31st May, the 2015 Solitaire du Figaro is expected to conclude in Dieppe on 28th June 2015. Find out more at event website.
The 2015 Solitaire du Figaro - Eric Bompard Cachemire course
Leg One – starts 31st May
Bordeaux, France to Sanxenxo, Spain – 461nm
Leg Two – starts 7th June
Sanxenxo, Spain to Concarneau, France – 522nm
Leg Three – starts 14th June
Concarneau, France to Torbay, UK – 602nm
Leg Four –starts 21st June
Torquay, UK to Dieppe, France – 600nm
Reunited in Bordeaux – The start!
In 2013, the Solitaire du Figaro was linked with Bordeaux’s famous ‘Fête du Fleuve’ Festival. In one of the most vibrant and exciting build ups to the race, for ten days Bordeaux was alive with music and visitors to the popular maritime festival – almost 500,000 people came to see the Figaros over the week. This incredible enthusiasm shown by the city’s population sealed a union between Bordeaux and the race, and to everyone’s joy the Solitaire du Figaro will return to Bordeaux in 2015.
Based on the Garonne River for a week of festivities, the 2015 skippers will go head to head in speed runs for the delight of the crowds in the week building up to the start. On the 30th May, the Figaro fleet will make their way down river to Pauillac (on the banks of the Gironde Estuary), where they will start the race on Sunday 31st May at 1400 CET.
Alain Juppé, Mayor of Bordeaux: 'Renewing our position as the opening to the sea and the world as it was many centuries ago, Bordeaux will again host the big Solitaire send-off on the waters of the Garonne and re-confirm its ability to host significant international sporting events. I wish all the sailors a great start to the race and much success once at sea. I have no doubt that our dynamic local environment will see Bordeaux welcoming many visitors to the Bordeaux Fête le Fleuve festival, which will only add to the atmosphere. Coming from all over the country and abroad too, almost 500,000 people visited the site last year.'
Sanxenxo – The first!
Set to arrive on the 2nd June, skippers will finish the 461nm first leg in Sanxenxo – a picturesque port on the Atlantic coast of Spain. Making its debut on the 2015 Solitaire du Figaro circuit, Sanxenxo will provide new challenges for the experienced Figaro fleet. From the start of Leg One in the Gironde Estuary, to the approach of the Ria De Pontevedra and its strong current and wind shadows – the fleet will be immersed in a tough race from the off. It may be its first time, but Sanxenxo won’t be going easy on the fleet.
Catalina González Bea, Mayor of Sanxenxo: 'Protected from the wind and the ocean swell of the west by the natural barrier that are the Ons islands (part of the Atlantic Islands National Park), Sanxenxo features superb year round sailing conditions. Once in the Juan Carlos Marina, where the fleet will be based during the stopover, the skippers will discover the magnificent nautical infrastructure available to them and their teams. We now await the arrival of the fleet and are sure that this new Spanish stopover port will be a fun and memorable onefor the 2015 Solitaire du Figaro-Eric Bompard cachemire skippers.'
La Cournouaille, the half way stage
Following its Spanish adventure, the Solitaire du Figaro fleet will head offshore on the 7th June towards the familiar waters of South Brittany. The arrival of the fleet into the quaint maritime port of Concarneau will mark the half way stage of the race – a home from home for many of the sailors. Leg Two of the race will run over 522nm from the estuaries of Galica, past the famous Cape Finisterre and across the infamous Bay of Biscay. The rounding of Ile d’Yeu will mark the home straight to Concarneau for the skippers, but with plenty of routing options that could make or break their race – it won’t be over until it’s over.
Jean-François Garrec, President of the Quimper Cornouaille Chamber of Commerce: 'Many people know of the Finistère Course au Large training centre of excellence situated in Port La Forêt, however they may not be fully aware of other elements of the marine industry based in our Cornouille region. With an aim of promoting the region as a hub for the marine industry, the Chamber of Commerce introduced a policy in 2006 to support hosting nautical events in the South Finisterre region – its secondary purpose being to launch the tourist season every year and lean on the dynamic commercial activities of the region. Following the Transat AG2R LA Mondiale, the Grand Prix Guyader, the Mini Transat and the Transat Bénodet Martinique, the region will also have the honour and the pleasure of hosting one of the stopovers of the 46th edition of the Solitaire du Figaro - Eric Bombard cachemire. In 2015, like every one of the previous 10 years, the Chamber of Commerce, the fishing industry, the tourism industry and the local businesses will make this period in Concarneau a festive and exciting place to be for the sailors and the other associated visitors.'
Torbay and the English Riviera
On the 14th June, the Solitaire du Figaro fleet will set off on the longest leg of the race from Concarneau to Torbay. Racing 602nm via the Chaussée du Sein, Fastnet Rock and the Scilly Isles, Leg Three of the Solitaire du Figaro 2015 is almost equivalent in length to the famous Rolex Fastnet Race. With potential for harsh winds and choppy seas in the Irish Sea, the penultimate leg will take all of the skippers’ fast depleting energy and cunning to negotiate the difficult conditions and rugged coastline of southwest England. After three or four days of racing, the fleet should arrive into Tor Bay on the 17-18th June – greeted by an enthusiastic welcome in the Torquay hosted race village. Among the top UK tourist destinations, Torbay or ‘The English Riviera’ as it is know, promises to extend its warmest welcome to the increasingly exhausted fleet.
Gordon Olivier, Mayor of Torbay: 'The Torbay Council and the Royal Torbay Yacht Club were the prime movers in securing the stopover for the bay. On top of helping increase the notoriety of Torquay and the sister towns of Paignton and Brixham the Solitaire du Figaro - Eric Bombard Cachemire’s presence in Torbay marks another big chapter in the history of the area for hosting significant sailing events. This started way back in 1948 when that year’s Olympic Regatta was hosted here too. The warmest of welcomes awaits the teams, the organisers and the visitors to the English Riviera. Torquay received TripAdvisor’s 2014 Travellers Choice top coastal resort award as a result of being the prettiest bay in South Devon surrounded by its magnificent coastline, the area is filled with attractions.'
Dieppe – The last leg
On the 21st June 2015, the Solitaire du Figaro competitors will set off on their final sprint to the finish line in Dieppe. After a lap of Torbay the fleet will head up the south west and north west coast of Cornwall to Lundy Island and St Gowan’s head off the Welsh coast, before returning south towards Land’s End. The fleet will then turn east along the south coast of England and into the English Channel, before finally dropping south to Dieppe where the winner of the 2015 Solitaire du Figaro will be crowned.
Dominique Garçonnet, Président de la CCI de Dieppe: 'Dieppe, the city of four ports, is defined by the ocean and is the a natural choice for hosting nautical events such as the Solitaire du Figaro-Eric Bombard Cachemire. The Chamber of Commerce has once again decided to host this event at the end of June in 2015. What better way to kick-off the tourism season than to run a prestigious event, an event with national and international reputation. Dieppe will also help demonstrate the values of sailing, bravery, strategy, autonomy, team spirit, respect of the environment and also perseverance. Together let’s make this event, for all stakeholders, a great nautical occasion reinforcing the dynamic nature of our region.'