Protest hearing sees Duthill lose lead

Victory for Gildas Mahe at the Figaro class' final event of the season, the National Equipage 2006

The final race this year for the Figaro class took place this weekend on the Rade de Brest in the fully crewed National Equipage 2006. After the last race victory seemed to have been secured - just - for Fred Duthill's Brossard on count back, despite being tied on points with Gildas Mahé's Le Comptoir Immbolier. Unfortunately at a protest hearing later Corentin Chenais on Scutum was disqualified from the final race due to a start line infringement and in the process Mahé gained a point while Duthill did not. Mahe therefore was able to take the overall win.

The final day comprised two windward-leewards and a coastal race. Once again the Rade de Brest provided shifty conditions for the boats. The first race was won by former Solitaire du Figaro winner Charles Caudrelier sailing Bostik, with Mahe second putting him into the lead ahead of Duthill.

In a dying wind the second race got underway and choosing the correct side of the course was essential. Unfortunately on this occasion Mahé chose wrongly while this year's Soltiaire winner Nicolas Troussel on Financo got it right to take the race win

The third race was disastrous for Scutum which aft starting down by the pin was washed back behind the line by the tide and then failed to start properly that would ultimately result in a protest and a change to the podium line-up.

Britain's Sam Davies on Roxy, racing with former Mini sailor Clemency Williams in her crew, finished a lowly 13th overall of the 18-strong fleet after losing one good result when they were declared OCS in the second race.

Provisional overall results (subject to protests)
1: Brossard - Duthil, Frederic - 52 pts (2,OCS ,1,7,2,3,11,4,3,)
2: Le Comptoir Immobilier - Mahe, Gildas - 52 pts (1,5,5,4,6,5,2,13,11,)
3: Scutum - Chenais, Corentin - 54 pts (4,2,OCS ,2,1,11,4,10,1,)
4: Bostik - Caudrelier, Charles (60 pts) Y C de L Odet (6,12,12,1,4,8,1,11,5,)
5: Espoir Credit Agricole - Pratt, Christopher - 62 pts (10,4,10,8,8,6,8,6,2,)
6: Iso Bois - Jacq, Rodolphe - 67 pts (14,3,8,10,10,2,3,7,10,)
7: Don du Sang - Nicol, Jean Pierre - 72 pts (11,10,2,9,14,10,10,2,4,)
8: Defi Sante Nutrition - Rouxel, Thomas - 73 pts (9,13,13,14,3,1,5,3,12,)
9: Generali Assurances - Elies, Yann - 74 pts (7,6,15,5,12,12,6,5,6,)
10: Financo - Troussel, Nicolas - 76 pts (5,1,7,12,17,13,12,1,8,)
11: Iceberg Finance - Tabarly, Erwan - 79 pts (12,15,4,6,7,7,13,8,7,)
12: Groupe Celeos - Treussart, Ronan - 87 pts (13,11,3,16,5,14,7,9,9,)
13: Roxy - Davies, Samantha - 107 pts (17,OCS ,6,11,9,4,14,14,13,)
14: Gedimat - Dubois, Gildas - 107 pts (8,7,11,13,13,16,9,16,14,)
15: Cotes D'armor - Gouezigoux/Bouillard, Laurent/Didier - 112 pts (15,8,9,3,11,18,16,17,15,)
16: Defi Transat - Livory, Yannig - 128 pts (16,14,14,15,16,9,15,12,17,)
17: Sogeti - Svilarich, Etienne - 139 pts (3,9,OCS ,18,18,15,DNC ,DNC ,DNC ,)
18: Axa Plaisance - Nigon, Erik - 147 pts (18,16,16,17,15,17,17,15,16,)