Roberts leads at the start of stage three from Paimpol to La Rochelle

by Riva.com on 3 Jul 2016 Alan Roberts on Alan Roberts Racing led the 39-strong fleet of solo skippers in the Solitaire Bompard Le Figaro as they began the 410-nautical mile third stage from Paimpol to La Rochelle.

The British sailor who lies 17th overall, led at the first windward mark of the course and held onto his advantage at the Radio France buoy, seven miles into the race.

The start of the third stage was the most spectacular of the race so far, the gun sending the fleet off under azure blue skies in a 14-18 knots of westerly breeze at 1900hrs local time. The first night promises to be brisk along the north Brittany coast with strong tidal currents, weed beds and rocky outcrops to contend with. The leaders should be off Ushant by midday tomorrow.

It was Frenchman Vincent Biarnes on Guyot Environnement who was first across the start-line for the second time in this year’s championship, but Roberts had read the tidal currents best and was able to get ahead at the first turn, with British compatriot Nick Cherry on Redshift giving chase in second.

At the Radio France mark Roberts was being chased by the overall race leader Yoann Richomme on Skipper Macif 2014. Also in the top-10 at that stage were two of Richomme’s closest rivals for overall honours – Nicolas Lunven on Generali and Erwan Tabarly on Armor Lux. In seventh place at that stage was Robin Elsey whose boat, Artemis 43, suffered big damage – now repaired after round-the-clock work in Paimpol - in stage two when he hit a rock.

Order at the Radio France buoy

1 : Alan Roberts (Alan Roberts Racing)
2 : Yoann Richomme (Skipper Macif 2014)
3 : Nick Cherry (Redshift)
4 : Nicolas Lunven (Generali)
5 : Thierry Chabagny (Gedimat)
6 : Corentin Douguet (Sofinther-un maillot pour la vie)
7 : Robin Elsey (Artemis 43)
8 : Andrew Baker (Seachange)
9 : Erwan Tabarly (Armor Lux)
10 : Anthony Marchand (Ovimpex-Secours Populaire)