Solitaire Bompard Le Figaro - Brits cast off on the Solitaire decider

by Artemis Offshore Academy on 7 Jul 2016 2016 Solitaire Bompard Le Figaro - Eight British Figaro skippers set sail from the stunning French city of La Rochelle in France this evening on the deciding leg of the 2016 Solitaire Bompard Le Figaro.

With the harbour walls lined with cheering spectators, a samba band setting the tone, and the sun blazing overhead, the atmosphere was electric as the 39 Solitaire competitors made their way to the final start-line of this year’s edition.

On the 1900 gun, the Brits made it count. Heading upwind in around 10 knots of breeze, Redshift skipper Nick Cherry was the first boat with a Red Ensign at the mark in eighth, after favouring the left side of the course. The green giant Gildas Morvan racing Cercle Vert was the last boat off the pontoon and the first boat at the mark.

Speaking ahead of the race, Cherry said: “Everyone’s in the same boat going into this leg. It’s only a 24-hour leg, but we’ll all be tired so it’s going to be interesting. Personally I like the start of a leg, so I’m hoping I can start well and get a good result.”

A 130-mile sprint around Ile de Yeu and back to La Rochelle, Leg 4 is a short course with a big part to play. This final loop will decide the 2016 Solitaire winner, finalise the overall leaderboard and, most importantly for the British camp, determine the coveted Rookie champion.

After three legs and 1,365 grueling solo miles, 22-year-old Will Harris crossed the Leg 4 startline on Artemis 77 with an 11-minute advantage at the top of the Rookie division. Earning second place on Leg 1, a first on Leg 2 and third on Leg 3 in the Rookie division, the young sailor from Surrey has a marginal edge over the chasing Frenchman Pierre Quiroga (Skipper Espoir CEM). However, even after so many miles, it all comes down to the final 100 and it’s all to play for.

Currently 19th in the overall standings, with Quiroga just behind in 20th, Harris was ready for the final battle. Despite feeling tired after yesterday’s Leg 3 finish, the British skipper was in good spirits ahead of the start – still with his eyes fixed firmly on the prize.

“My ambition is to beat Pierre and win the Rookie division,” he stated. “It’s been my aim since the start and I can’t believe it has come down to 11 minutes and 14 seconds.

“I couldn’t believe it when I saw the times after Leg 3. It’s all there to play for, but either way I’m going to come back on the docks and be happy with how the Solitaire has gone for me.”

He continued: “I’m also fighting for second Brit in the overall rankings, only 30 seconds behind Nick (Cherry) in 18th. Finishing second Brit would make me very happy.”

Leading the British skippers in the rankings in 16th, Alan Roberts (Alan Roberts Racing) was not underestimating the intensity and impact the final leg would have on the race.

“I think it’s going to be really interesting,” he enthused on the pontoons. “It’s going to be a tricky little leg with thermal breezes moving across the course. The tide will also play a key part in the race, with high tidal coefficients at the moment. This will add a bit of extra pressure and the element of surprise.

“Although the race is short, it’s not going to be easy. It’s still another Figaro leg,” he concluded.

Sustaining damage to his forestay at the start of Leg 3, British Rookie Hugh Brayshaw delivered his boat Artemis 23 from Paimpol to La Rochelle and is determined to finish his first Solitaire. Having only started keelboat sailing in September, and at the same time learning to sail solo, Brayshaw has been on a steep learning curve. With his quote after the first leg ringing in his ears “you can’t understand the Solitaire until you’ve raced it', the skipper has one final objective for the race.

“I would like to be able to race this whole leg with the fleet,” he said. “That would be a race I would enjoy. I have had some pretty high aspirations for each leg, but so far something out of my control has happened and they have not yet come to light. I just want to sail a nice final race and be able to play the game on this leg.”

With light-to-moderate breeze forecast for the final stage, the 2016 Solitaire Bompard Le Figaro is expected to conclude late afternoon tomorrow in La Rochelle.

Track the fleet here.