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Solo Concarneau Trophée Guy Cotten - The toughest race yet

by Artemis Offshore Academy on 11 May 2015
The Solo Concarneau - Trophée Guy Cotten was a wet and wild race. - Solo Concarneau Trophée Guy Cotten Lloyd Images
Cold, wet, frustrating, tiring and insane were just some of the words the Artemis Offshore Academy squad used to describe the Solo Concarneau Trophée Guy Cotten. Finishing the 330-mile course on Saturday 9th May, the Solo Concarneau was the sailors’ toughest race yet and their final test ahead of the 2185 mile Solitaire du Figaro – Eric Bompard Cachemire at the end of this month.

Comprised of long legs between islands, through rough waters and around rocks and fish farms, the Solo Concarneau course allowed for very little sleep. Add to that shifty winds and 30-knot gusts caused by two weather systems passing over the course, the skippers were lucky if they got a 10 minute nap in almost 48 hours – a real baptism of fire for the 11 Rookies taking part, including three Brits. Relishing in the rougher weather along the rugged Brittany coastline, Sam Matson (Chatham) put in his best performance of the season so far. Securing a strong position early on in the race, Sam saw it through all 330 miles to finish 11th overall – one up from his 12th position in the race in 2014. This will come as a great reassurance for Sam, as he and the rest of the British fleet prepare to depart for Bordeaux in just 10 days time – the starting port for this year’s Solitaire.



“It was a really good race, but pretty tiring because you could never sleep for too long – always expecting the next wind shift and new weather to come through,” Sam explained on the docks. “You really had to be on it the whole time. I got myself into a nice position early on and just held it. It would have been nice to take a few places, but you can’t have everything. There were some really good sailors ahead of me [and behind] and I’m happy with 11th.'

Fellow Academy Alumni sailor Henry Bomby also put in his best performance of the season, finishing 12th overall and giving himself a much-needed confidence boost ahead of his fourth Solitaire: “The Solo Concarneau was perfect training ahead of the Solitaire du Figaro with lots of different conditions to contend with and a really fun tight spinnaker reach down to Ile d’Yeu. I wanted to finish top 15 and I did. I’m feeling ready for the Solitaire now, 12th is a good solid result.” However, it was a bittersweet end to the race for Henry. Taking a stowaway (a bird) from Île d’Yeu to Belle Île he was delighted to discover his new feathery friend had ‘christened’ whatever he could find down below… maybe it will bring him good luck for the Solitaire!



GAC Concise skipper Jack Bouttell was next in the ranks in 18th. Describing the race as “frustrating”, Jack enjoyed the competition, but not his result. Robin Elsey (Artemis 43) was first of the British Rookies and third Rookie overall in 20th, reporting that he could have cried because he was so tired at Île d’Yeu and that the Raz de Sein, an infamous rocky and tidal passage, is insane: “It’s probably the most insane place I have ever sailed. Imagine going through rapids with 30 other boats that could crash into you, with very little control. Crazy, fun and difficult at the same time.”



Just behind Robin was Academy Alumni skipper Nick Cherry (Redshift). After a number of top 10 finishes this season already, Nick was a little disappointed with his 21st in the Solo Concarneau Trophée Guy Cotten; “After looking quite promising early on I got the mother of all spinnaker wraps [a tangle in the sail]. One trip up the mast, a lot of tugging, flapping, unclipping and an hour and about 25 places later I got it sorted. The solo rig climb and swing to the forestay isn’t something I want to repeat.” Alan Roberts (Magma Structures) was the next British skipper over the line in 23rd, also frustrated with his result and regretting his decision to take spicy noodles on the race!

Andrew Baker (Artemis 23) finished 25th overall, the second British Rookie in the ranks. Wet cold, tired and exhausted, this was Andrew’s first solo offshore race in ‘proper’ offshore conditions: “Sailing 50 miles at the same angle isn’t fun when you can’t move from the seat. It was really hard to sleep because there were so many tight reaches. It was wet and cold for the whole race, and I can’t tell you how good it was to take my socks off. I’ve made it sound like it wasn’t enjoyable, it was. It was just tiring.”



The Solo Concarneau was a real eye opener for all three of the British Rookies, including youngest of the three Rob Bunce who finished just behind Andrew in 28th : “It was a bloody long way and bloody cold, but I felt such a massive sense of achievement at the end of it. I find it really amazing that after hundreds of miles, it’s just a mile that separates the majority of the fleet. It’s also amazing and annoying how easy it is to lose and difficult to gain that mile is!”



The Solo Concarneau Trophée Guy Cotten was won by Corentin Horeau (Bretagne Credit Mutuel Performance), with Gildas Mahé (Qualiconfort The Beautiful watches) in second and Yann Eliés in third (Groupe Queguiner Leucemie Espoir). The race spanned 330 miles and took just under 48 hours to complete. The Solo Concarneau was the final warm up race for the Classe Figaro Bénéteau skippers competing in the 2015 Solitaire du Figaro – Eric Bompard Cachemire, starting 31st May from Bordeaux. Eight British skippers will take part.







Full results


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