Nigel King preparing for La Solitaire

by Flavia Bateson on 5 Apr 2007 Top UK sailor Nigel King, from Lymington, is ready to face an international field of solo sailors as he prepares for La Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro this summer.

The event, for single-handed skippers, covers some 1,876 miles between 21st July and 24th August, starting in France with stopovers in Ireland and Spain. The longest leg will be 762 miles between Brest and La Coruna. Nigel will be one of only two British boats. To qualify, Nigel first has to complete two out of four events. For him this will include a 240 mile race from Concarneau in May followed by a similar event from Les Sables d’Olonnes

Entries are limited to 55 and the event creates a level playing field by using identical 10.14m Beneteau Figaro 2s.This means it’s all down to the sailor. Nigel has already set up his training camp at Le Pole France Voile in La Rochelle, an Olympic-standard centre, where Head Coach Marc Reine has made him extremely welcome.

Nigel has recently been given support in his campaign by Chris Bull, former RORC Vice Commodore and owner of the J/145 'Jazz' on which Nigel has been crewing in an Australian series over the winter. This has enabled him to buy his Figaro 'Blue Note', formerly 'Nantucket IV' which David Raison has campaigned in France.

Nigel commented: 'Training in La Rochelle has enabled me to tune up alongside four French Figaros. We have an intense day starting with a briefing, video, then out on the water for as long as possible. I am really pleased with the boat - can’t understand why there isn’t a fleet in the UK. They’re well thought out, good to handle and the systems work fine. The racing is as close as you want it to be.'