2015 Solitaire du Figaro – A very special Leg 2

by Artemis Offshore Academy on 13 Jun 2015 At 2145 on Friday 12th June, Sébastien Simon (Bretagne – Crédit Mutuel Espoir) was first to cross the finish line of Leg two of the Solitaire du Figaro – Eric Bompard Cachemire. The shortened leg (330 miles) from La Coruña, Spain to La Cornouaille, France, took him two days eight hours and forty five mins, and leaves him 11th overall on the leaderboard. Second was Xavier Macaire (Skipper Herault), who moves up to second overall, and third place was Yann Elies (Groupe Queguiner – Leucémie Espoir), who now takes the overall race lead – after the two legs – by four minutes and twenty three seconds.

British sailor Henry Bomby (Rockfish Red) was fourth – a personal best as well as the highest ranking ever achieved by a British sailor in any Solitaire leg since 1975. Henry finished in a time of two days nine hours exactly, now sitting in 13th place overall after the two legs.

Robin Elsey (Artemis 43) lost his place atop of the Rookie podium, finishing fourth in the rookie division on Leg two. Despite this, he is only two minutes and 13 seconds behind his main competition – Benoit Mariette (Entrepose), so there’s all to play for in the remaining legs.

Jack Bouttell (GAC Concise) is currently the top British sailor on the overall leaderboard after another strong performance, finishing 14th. After two legs, he sits 2 hours and 56 minutes behind overall race leader Yann Elies.

First Brit into La Cornouaille, Henry Bomby said on the docks: “Arriving here after the finish was amazing. I’ve never been welcomed into a place like that – with everyone clapping. There are so many people, and everyone’s interested. It’s fantastic.”

There are still two legs to sail of the 2015 Solitaire du Figaro – Eric Bompard Cachemire, the next stage taking the British skippers home to the UK – Torbay.

See the full British results after Leg 1, Leg 2 and overall below.

Solitaire du Figaro overall results after Leg Two:

Position/Skipper/Boat name/Time at sea/ * Rookie

1. Yann Elies/Groupe Queguiner – Leucémie Espoir/5 days, 18 hours, 20’, 15”
2. Xavier Macaire/Skipper Herault/5 days, 18 hours, 24’, 38”
3. Alexis Loison/Groupe Fiva/5 days, 18 hours, 34’, 14”
12. Jack Bouttell/GAC Concise/5 days, 21 hours, 16’, 19”
13. Henry Bomby/Rockfish Red/ 5 days, 21 hours, 39’, 44”
16. Robin Elsey/Artemis 43/5 days, 22 hours, 16’, 11” *
17. Sam Matson/Chatham Marine/5 days, 22 hours, 17’, 12”
18. Alan Roberts/Magma Structures/ 5 days, 22 hours, 51’, 43”
31. Nick Cherry/Redshift/6 days, 1 hour, 29’, 54”
32. Andrew Baker/Artemis 23/6 days, 1 hour, 34’, 26” *
37. Rob Bunce/Artemis 37/ 6 days, 2 hours, 44’, 27” *

Solitaire du Figaro overall Rookie positions after Leg Two

Position/Skipper/Boat name/Time at sea

1. Benoit Mariette/Entrepose/5 days, 22 hours, 13’, 58”
2. Robin Elsey/Artemis 43/5 days, 22 hours, 16’, 11”
3. Benjamin Dutreux/Team Vendee/5 days, 23 hours, 4’, 38”
4. Aymeric Arthauld/Reel – PGO Automobiles/5 days, 23 hours, 14’, 53”
5. Arthur Prat/Guadeloupe Grand Large 2/6 days, 00 hours, 40’, 17”
6. Martin Le Pape/Ovimpex – Secours Populaire/6 days, 1 hour, 10’, 43”
7. Andrew Baker/Artemis 23/6 days, 1 hour, 34’, 26”
8. Nicolas Thomas/Guadeloupe Grande Large 1/6 days, 1 hour, 35’, 47”
9. Sophie Faguet/Region Basse Normandie/6 days, 1 hour, 35’,55”
10. Rob Bunce/Artemis 37/6 days, 2 hours, 44’, 27”
11. Tolga Ekrem Pamir/1 Jour 1 Homme 1 Arbre/6 days, 4 hours, 17’, 57”
12. Marc Pouydebat/France AVC/6 days, 7 hours, 41’, 11”

Solitaire du Figaro – Leg Two results

Position/Skipper/Boat name/Time at sea

1. Sébastien Simon/Bretagne – Crédit Mutuel Espoir/2 days, 8 hours, 45’, 21”
2. Xavier Macaire/Skipper Herault/2 days, 8 hours, 51’, 57”
3. Yann Elies/Groupe Queguiner – Leucémie Espoir/2 days, 8 hours, 53’, 36”
4. Henry Bomby/Rockfish Red/2 days, 9 hours, 0’, 0”
10. Alan Roberts/Magma Structures/2 days, 9 hours, 16’, 28”
14. Jack Bouttell/GAC Concise/2 days, 9 hours, 22’, 45”
17. Robin Elsey/Artemis 43/2 days, 9 hours, 38’, 42”
18. Andrew Baker/Artemis 23/2 days, 9 hours, 40’, 27”
20. Sam Matson/Chatham Marine/2 days, 9 hours, 41’, 54”
36. Nick Cherry/Redshift/2 days, 10 hours, 47’, 24“
38. Rob Bunce/Artemis 37/2 days, 6’, 2”

Solitaire du Figaro – Leg One results

Position/Skipper/Boat name/Time at sea

1. Thierry Chabagny/Gedimat/3 days, 9hours, 11’, 36”
2. Yann Elies/Groupe Queguiner – Leucemie/3 days, 9 hours, 26’, 39”
3. Alexis Loison/Groupe Fiva/3 days, 9 hours, 28’, 13”
11. Jack Bouttell/GAC Concise/3 days, 11 hours, 53’, 34”
15. Sam Matson/Chatham/3 days, 12 hours, 35’, 18”
16. Robin Elsey/Artemis 43/3 days, 12 hours, 37’, 29”
18. Henry Bomby/Rockfish Red/3 days, 12 hours, 39’, 44”
24. Alan Roberts/Magma Structures/3 days,13 hours 35’, 15”
28. Nick Cherry/Redshift/3 days, 14 hours, 42’, 30”
33. Rob Bunce/Artemis 37/3 days, 15hours, 38’, 25”
36. Andrew Baker/Artemis 23 /3 days 15 hours, 53’, 59”

Read what all eight of the British Solitaire du Figaro – Eric Bompard Cachemire skippers had to say after Leg Two:

Henry Bomby, (Rockfish Red)

“I just kept taking places the whole time! I didn’t really have confidence in the beginning – there were about 4 guys in front of me and my aim was just to stick with them for as long as possible. Then I started to take one, then another, and in the end I just thought ‘What the hell, I’ll just go for it!”

Alan Roberts (Magma Structures)

“I’ve actually done so little of the offshore stuff, every time I do a race or a leg I’m constantly learning. It’s such a great experience for me as a sailor.”

Jack Bouttell (GAC Concise)

“On the second day we had a magical sunset. There were dolphins everywhere around the boat, and I was going quickly across the water. It was such a gorgeous evening, I sort of forgot about sailing and racing altogether!”

Robin Elsey (Artemis 43)

“I think my motto is ‘Just keep plodding along’ but you’ve got to do it. You just need to go out there and enjoy yourself, and see where you come out the other side.”

Andrew Baker (Artemis 43)

“This time I just sailed my own race – the race I wanted to sail. I just made my own decisions and did what I thought was right, forgetting about the rest of the fleet. It all seemed to come together so that’s good.”

Sam Matson (Chatham Marine)

“My biggest challenge was definitely trying to move towards the front pack. I had to save time wherever I could and was constantly looking for the next opportunity. That was quite tough.”

Nick Cherry (Redshift)

“This Solitaire’s definitely been interesting! That last leg was like getting an extra leg for free! There’s more work to do but I feel like we’re kind of getting more value for money!”

Rob Bunce (Artemis 37)

“Today we were sailing in perfect conditions with a spinnaker up – it was a nice treat for my birthday!”