Jonny Malbon's toughest test - Solitaire du Figaro

by Tim Kelly on 28 Jul 2009
In just a few days Jonny Malbon will face his toughest test since the solo Vendée Globe in the Solitaire du Figaro race starting Thursday (30 July). The Vendée Globe may be the ultimate solo marathon but the Solitaire du Figaro is the ultimate ‘sprint’ – intense racing on short legs, sailing within just a few meters or a few miles of your closest competitors.

The 1,700-mile race is broken down into four legs visiting Brittany, Ireland, Spain and the Vendée region of France. Jonny will be racing the Artemis Figaro, a one-design boat just 33-feet in length, and has been training hard over the last few months in preparation for this annual event that is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

Fifty-two competitors will be on the start line including many of France’s leading solo specialists including Vendée Globe winner Michel Desjoyeaux. Jonny will be racing in the Rookie division (first-timers) and will be aiming for a top 5 result in this division: 'The experienced Figaro racers impress me a lot too, they sail full on and know the boat inside out. I don’t think there could be any closer offshore racing… I now know that it will be a matter of minutes or even seconds only at the finishes, and that if you mess up a manoeuvre 10 boats overtake you in a snap! It’s merciless, and at the same time very friendly because everyone is very welcoming and open, they willingly share their experience or offer a helping hand. There is definitely such as thing as the ‘Figaro family spirit’ and I’m determined to embrace it,' said Jonny.

Artemis teammate Nick Bubb, Jonny’s préparateur for the race, will be providing valuable support to keep Jonny as competitive as possible throughout the 3-week event.

'Forget about sleep, be prepared to live for days helm in hand, within talking distance of your closest rivals at times. Be ready to lead by a seemingly comfortable margin, and to get overtaken by 15 boats as you mess up that crucial spinnaker drop after having spent 48 hours awake, feeding on the crumbs of cereal bars left in your pockets,' commented Jocelyn Blériot, editor of LATITUDE, the official magazine of Artemis Ocean Racing, who spent years reporting on the event.

'Expect to be slapped around in the Celtic sea before being overwhelmed by the local population’s incredible welcome in Dingle (Ireland), get ready to experience Biscay’s wrath before spending way too long in a tapas bar in La Coruña - to share memories of that storm - without having taken the time to take off those wet oilskins… Be sure you’ll find a fellow ‘Figarist’ ready to help should you be in trouble at sea or before the start, expect to use words that would have gotten you in serious trouble in school when that kelp or fishing line gets tangled in your rudders, making you lose a vital 0.25 knots of boat speed. Most of all, get used to the idea that you’ll come back to the Solitaire, because that’s the way things go!' concluded Blériot.

Jonny’s Solitaire du Figaro click here

2009 Solitaire du Figaro course:
* Prologue event, Lorient Tuesday, July 28
* Leg 1 Lorient (FRA) > La Coruña (ESP) Start: July 30, Distance: 345 miles
* Leg 2 La Coruña (ESP) > St Gilles Croix de Vie (FRA) Start: August 4; Distance: 365 miles
* Leg 3 St Gilles Croix de Vie (FRA) > Dingle (IRL) Start: August 10, Distance: 485 miles
* Leg 4 Dingle (IRL) > Dieppe (FRA) Start: August 16, Distance: 511 miles