Sail-World.com : Transat Jacques Vabre: Skippers use Solitaire du Figaro as preparation
|
Transat Jacques Vabre: Skippers use Solitaire du Figaro as preparation |
While awaiting the Transat Jacques Vabre this winter, five skippers from the last Vendée Globe – and among them some of the top names – have decided to do battle this summer in the one design monotype series in the fortieth 'Solitaire du Figaro'.
They are Michel Desjoyeaux, Armel Le Cléac’h, Yann Eliès, Jérémie Beyou and Jonny Malbon. What do they have in common? They all lined up for the start of the last Vendée Globe and will all be back together again on 30th July at the start of the Figaro in Lorient.
'MichDesj' will be attempting to grab a historic fourth win, which will make him the outright hero of this race by becoming the only skipper to have won four times. Up until now only two other sailors have achieved three victories: Philippe Poupon and Jean Le Cam… once again top names from the Vendée Globe. Desjoyeaux will quite naturally become the favourite for honours this time, 'but in the Solitaire, he can be caught, as I've already beaten him!'
Armel Le Cléac'h was happy to point out when he completed his round the world race. Indeed, in 2003, Armel won the event 13 seconds ahead of … another Vendée Globe winner, Alain Gautier.
Jérémie Beyou, champion in the Solitaire in 2005, will also be looking for to an excellent result and can also claim to have beaten the master, as in that year in Port-Bourgenay, second place went to Michel Desjoyeaux. Jérémie, who is currently looking for a partner for his 60-foot boat, will be determined to show off his talent. The same is true of Yann Eliès for whom lining up at the start is already an achievement, six months after his terrible accident in the Southern Ocean. But having said that, Eliès is not there just to take part. 'I'm in it to win!' stated Yann, who has already won the two pre-event reasons in the Figaro he took part in after leaving the physical therapy centre: the Solo Ports de France and the Channel Crossing event. Winner of four legs in the Solitaire, 2nd in the final rankings in 2004, Yann Eliès will also be aiming high. Both to convince a future partner of his 60-foot boat and to complete this victory over fate and to complete the personal challenge he faced.
Between these four names, we can look forward to a great battle. But 51 other racers, including former winners like Nicolas Troussel (twice), Charles Caudrelier, Eric Drouglazet, and those, who have been close to victory like the very experienced Gildas Morvan, Frédéric Duthil, Erwan Tabarly and others, will be keen to thwart their plans.
The Cowes based sailor Jonny Malbon may not have such lofty ambitions. The unlucky skipper of Artemis in the last Vendée Globe is here to learn. But if we listen to what he says, this is perhaps the best way to appreciate the close links that exist between the Solitaire and the Vendée Globe: 'In spite of the thousands of miles I've raced in the IMOCA 60, my experience of solo racing is somewhat limited. Today I have the opportunity to go back to school and to learn some of the specific techniques from the Figaro circuit, which brings together in one competition close contact sailing and ocean racing. If you look at the most talented skippers in the Vendée Globe, you can see they have the Figaro on their CV. I know this is going to be a highly competitive race, but I shall be learning a lot and making progress.'
http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/
by Vendee Globe media
6:34 AM Wed 24 Jun 2009 GMT
Click here for printer friendly version
Click here to send us feedback or comments about this story.
If you want to send this story to a friend, please use link below
http://www.sail-world.com/USA/Transat-Jacques-Vabre:-Skippers-use-Solitaire-du-Figaro-as-preparation/58213
|
Based on your current download speed Sail-World has delivered large images (660 pixels long side.) If you would like to see only small images (300 pixels long side)
click here . For medium sized images (500 pixels long side)
click here .
| |
