52nd La Solitaire du Figaro Stage 3 underway from Fécamp in sunshine
by Andi Robertson 5 Sep 08:59 PDT
5 September 2021
Warm, hazy sunshine, light easterly winds and big crowds on the beaches, in the vibrant race village and the clifftops sent the third stage of the 52nd La Solitaire du Figaro on its way at midday today from Fécamp with race leader Pierre Quiroga (Skipper Macif 2019) warning that he believes this complicated 624 miles long penultimate stage could be decisive.
The leg opens with a light winds reach the Channel to turn west at South Pullar just as the tide changes. The local sea breeze gave decent conditions to get away from the high, white cliffs which surround Fécamp and the NE'ly gradient wind appeared to have come in early to see the fleet racing north under Code Zero at 8.5 to 9 knots.
Strategies on the approach and rounding to the Pullar mark - just four miles out from Selsey Bill - and then the choices in the morning hours of Monday could shape the outcome of the stage. Any initial advantage could be quickly magnified if the reach to the English coast is quicker than expected.
There is a strategic choice early on the 200 miles long leg out of the Channel, whether to invest to go south of the Casquettes traffic separation zone, that is to say close to the Channel Islands rather than to stay towards the English coast.
Most weather gurus suggest a key gain could be made here but the risk is high to sail more miles if the timing of the E'ly wind strengthening across the course from the south does not prove as per the weather models suggest.
The passage from Longships Light off Lands End to Lundy Island and Saint Gowan -off the SW corner of Wales - looks like it will be in a building breeze and on strong tides but it then becomes very messy on the leg towards the finish near Roscoff on the Baie de Morlaix.
Some meteo models show very light winds and strong adverse currents such that the leaders might struggle to pass Bishop Rock at the Scilly Islands before a cut-off low pressure approaches from the south to give a light upwind finish. Options will remain open even here, the last big choice being whether to pass east or west of the Scillies TSS (Traffic Separation Scheme, an exclusion zone reserved only for shipping).
Quiroga, who holds a lead of 1 hour and 36 minutes on the General Classification, made an excellent start and quickly overhauled the young French rookie Arthur Hubert (MonAtoutEnergie.fr) who lead the fleet at the first mark. But as the 65 miles reach north across the Channel towards the Pullar mark unfolded Xavier Macaire (Groupe SNEF), who lies second and won Stage 1, was almost alongside him and pacing his rival.
Speaking to the assembled early morning crowds in Fécamp Quiroga smiled, "It is nice to have sunshine again at the start. I don't remember having so much sun on any La Solitaire du Figaro before. It is a pleasure."
He added, "But I am a bit stressed because this is a complicated leg with a lot of light winds, tidal gates and transitions to manage. It will be hard to manage everything perfectly. I think this might be a decisive leg but I want to enjoy it. The forecast has got a bit better than a few days ago with a little more wind coming in."
Bertrand Pacé, the former French America's Cup racer who is a coach with the Lorient training group concurred, "This promises to be a difficult stage with light winds at the start but a building breeze for the second part. And a lot will depend on the first part of the race, there is a bit of everything. There are a lot of traps, a lot of transitions and we finish on strengthening tides, the coefficient building to 100 and so there will be strong currents at the finish. The first 36 hours can be crucial."
Britain's Alan Roberts (Seacat Services) who lies 18th overall has already delivered on his first pledge, leaving the dock with the promise to start better and attack hard, looking forwards to sailing through his native English waters this evening, even if it is only for a short time. He was fourth at the first buoy and passed Tom Laperche (Bretagne - CMB Performance) who had to make a penalty turn apparently for touching the mark.
Alan Roberts (GBR, Seacat Services): "This stage is going to be really different from the others. I feel good, really ready to attack. The first 24 hours are not going to be easy, you have to manage to get away from this coast here, then take the right course to reach the Pullar buoy in England. I feel quite comfortable in these conditions which I like when you have to find speed. I am happy to think I will be back sailing on British waters. Obviously, I know the whole south coast of England quite well, but unfortunately, we are not going to be close to the shore, sailing through the bays this time."
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