Figaro- Last Leg - Shorten Course issued

by Sabina Mollart-Rogerson on 11 Aug 2008
A fierce battle for the lead ensues on the final leg of La Solitaire du Figaro yacht race. Nine boats are within just a mile of each other as they furiously beat upwind to the Brittany Buoy, 20 miles further out to the East before they turn and make the final direct run back to l'Aber Wrac'h. Just 38 boats remain with 8 abandons since the start on Friday in Cherbourg. The front that swept over the fleet yesterday bringing with it over 30 knots of wind and heavy seas has finally eased and settled.

The lead continually changes hands among the first nine boats, often within sight and just 1.2 miles of each other. Last night it's Eric Drouglazet's Luisina, then Frederic Duthil's Distinxion Automobiles, or now Erwan Tabarly (Athema) and Nicolas Bérenger (Koné Ascenseurs)…'It is quite amazing to think that after 200 miles of racing upwind we find ourselves so grouped together,' exclaims Bérenger, polled in joint first position at 16:00. 'I am a bit fed of this constant tacking and am going to go off and do my own thing,' continues Duthil.

'It has been a slow and laborious process to beat up to the mark,' describes Nicolas Lunven (Foncia), in 7th place and 1 mile from the leader. The deliverance will come upon rounding the Brittany Buoy, when 'we will dry out and have a chance to have a hot meal, but then the sea is still messy and we are going to have to take care on the spinnaker run, so we might have to wait for that hot meal until we get to l'Aber Wrac'h!' continues Lunven.

Two days into the race and exhaustion is taking its toll on the solo sailors. 'In the difficult conditions I only been able to snacks and right now having my first hot meal since the first night' recounts Nicolas Bérenger (Koné Ascenseurs) as he holds on to the narrow lead.

The rookies are also enjoying a close battle; François Gabart (Espoir Région Bretagne) holds a 0.5-mile advantage over his closest rival Adrien Hardy (AGIR Recouvrement) and both are up front just over 3 miles behind the leading pack. Andy Greenwood (Imtech), who chose the more northern route, is trailing behind by 26.9 miles in 35th place. Whilst Nicolas Troussel (Financo), keeps gaining ground, grappling back ten miles off the lead throughout today and continues to sail above the bulk of the fleet, now 24th place and 10.2 miles behind. The sailors furthest north have an average one-knot edge on the average boat speed, which will see the deficit reduced on the final approach to the Brittany buoy.

At 17:00 on Sunday, the Race Office announced a further change to the course. Instead of heading down to a mark off the Isle of Sein, the fleet will head direct for l'Aber Wrac'h upon rounding Brittany Buoy, this cutting out some 30 miles of route.

The reason for this decision is that a further depression bringing strong 40-knot winds is expected to sweep over the race area on Tuesday between 02:00 and 05:00 am. This shortened course should see the sailors reach port safely from Monday afternoon.

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