Solitaire du Figaro - From Plymouth to Roscoff via Fastnet rock

by Marie Le Berrigaud-Perochon on 14 Jun 2014 The Solitaire du Figaro fleet leaves sunny Sutton Harbour tomorrow afternoon for the start of Leg 2. After a lap of Plymouth Sound for the spectators the solo sailors face 535nm from Plymouth to Roscoff via the famous Fastnet rock. This is the longest leg of the 45th edition of La Solitaire du Figaro - Eric Bompard Cachemire.

Alain Gautier (Generali) 'It's different compared to Leg 1, we have a long way to the Fastnet - I like Fastnet because it's a very interesting lighthouse, an interesting story. We have 200 miles to sail with space compared to the first leg when it was a short track. And after we come back to Brittany, it's a long way, a lot of things can happen. I think it's more of a Leg for me than the first one.'

The fleet is expecting 10-15kn NE'ly for the start but then getting a bit lighter towards Fastnet Rock where there's a wind shadow. That might be one of the only tactical options of the race.

Sam Matson (Artemis 21) 'It's going to be another tough one, with some challenging transitions to deal with especially up around the southern Irish coast. It's nice to know from Leg one that I have the boat speed, but it's a new race and will no doubt throw me some new challenges along the way! This will be my fourth time turning around the infamous rock and not a single time has it been easy for me! Very changeable conditions and often a lack of wind. I have tried to recover from lack of sleep as much as possible, but I don't think you could ever come back fully rested from such a short stop.'

23 year old Matson currently heads the ‘rookie' division of the fleet with an 18 minute lead over Gwenole Gahinet (Safran - Guy Cotten). Leg 1 winner Alexis Loison (Groupe Fiva) believes the final stages of this leg could have a significant impact on overall standings.

Alexis Loison (Groupe Fiva): 'There won't be much wind to reach Roscoff, and according to our time of arrival, we could have a reverse tide. Half an hour can turn into two hours late, or we could see the fleet grouping. Obviously, many things may happen! I feel good and the boat is in perfect shape.'

The boats will leave the pontoons soon after 1600BST tomorrow afternoon, the race will start at 1830BST. The first British stopover in 11 years is almost over, Plymouth hopes this is au revoir not goodbye to the Solitaire.

Sam Goodchild (Team Plymouth) 'It's the longest leg and the most open water leg really. We've got a mark leaving Plymouth, we go around Land's End, the next stop's Fastnet and then it's Roscoff. There are not a lot of restrictions of where we can or cannot go, it should be quite interesting on that front. Speed is going to be fairly important I think. It's NE'lys the whole way, we're doing one manoeuvre! - we're gybing around the Fastnet rock, apart from that it's all pretty simple'

Gwen Gbick (Made in Midi), 33rd: The stage seems clear. There will not be much wind, medium northeast. In appearance, it looks simple, but in practice it will be much more complex. First, we will have to get out of England. The Fastnet approach will be complicated taking into account the wind shadow created by Ireland, as the arrival on the French coast with the tide and an easing breeze. It will have to be further analysed with future weather files .... From the first leg, I retain that when I navigate correctly, I can play with the leaders. In the first half of the race, I sometimes flirted with the top ten; these are interesting things, and my boat speed is correct. However, I made small mistakes that I must clear. For example, that I must go to sleep! I think I could sleep a little more on the second leg. '

Henry Bomby (Red): 'Predominantly it's going to be reaching to the Rock and back, there's going to be less tactical options this time, it's going to be a pure drag race which is going to be tough on all the skippers because we're going to have to be pushing so hard to make sure we stay at the front of the pack and with the pack. The Fastnet Rock for every sailor is rock that everyone loves to round, it's such an impressive lighthouse when you get around it and often you get so close to it. It will be nice to see it hopefully this time, last time I went round it, in the Fastnet last year, we had such thick fog I could hardly see it even though I was within two metres of it.'

Erwan Tabarly (Armor Lux – Comptoir de la Mer), fifth: 'At the start, it will be complicated as there is a lot of current. There will be some major points to pass, such as Lizard, then Wolf Rock and also the trafic separation scheme to avoid. We could have light winds approaching Ireland, which can complicate and lengthen the duration of the race. We should have a wind hole bypassing the Fastnet. For both crossings, there will be enough wind to sail crosswind. The arrival on Roscoff may also present some difficulties. It will be a light wind leg, which can probably widen the time Event website