Generali Solo into final stages

News on the progress of British skipper Sam Davies

Samantha Davies and her Figaro yacht, Skandia, finished in thirteenth place this afternoon in the French Mediterranean town of Porquerolles.

"It was a crazy race but I am pleased with my performance. Skandia, as ever, performed really well although I managed to hit an unmarked buoy off one of the islands near Porquerolles. I was below deck checking the charts and then came back on deck to check the genoa when I saw this large dark shape. There are two holes in the side of Skandia and about three of the stantions are bent. Lucky for me my preparateur, Laurent Bedariddes, is a boat builder so he is hard at work getting it all fixed," commented Davies

"The race itself was quite interesting as it was windy for the first part, with winds up to 35knots. The number of sail changes meant that it was again, very physical but then the wind died to nothing. I was happy how I sailed yesterday as it was a proper upwind race. There was a certain amount of luck, and a certain amount of skill, involved in today's racing. At the finish I nearly overtook five boats in a puff of wind, but then they got one from the other side and managed to stay ahead.

Davies now goes into the final series of windward/leeward inshore races in eleventh position overall.

"We are meant to be having two races tomorrow, a race to Hyeres on Thursday and then more windward/leewards on Friday and Saturday. It would be nice to get a rest if we can as most of the fleet is pretty exhausted," she concluded.

The Generali Solo finishes on Saturday 26th June, 2004.

Race 8: La Grande Motte - Beaulieu-sur-Mer
Position, Boat, Skipper
1 L’ESPRIT - D’EQUIPE PEAN Lionel
2 DELTA DORE - BEYOU Jéremie
3 GROUPE GENERALI ASSURANCES - ELIES Yann
4 BOSTIK FINDLEY - CAUDRELIER-BENAC Charles
5 THALES - TABARLY Erwan
6 CLIPTOL SPORT - PELLECUER Laurent
7 BOOZY AND THE KIKOUYOUSDE - PAVANT Kito
8 MALONGO - DROUGLAZET Eric
9 CERCLE VERT - MORVAN Gildas
10 CHAUSS-EUROPE - NELIAS Jean-Luc
13 SKANDIA - DAVIES Samantha

Overall top 12 Ranking, Saturday 19th June (After 8 races)
Position, Boat, Skipper, Points
1 GROUPE GENERALI ASSURANCES ELIES Yann 57
2 MALONGO DROUGLAZET Eric 61
3 CERCLE VERT MORVAN Gildas 61
4 DELTA DORE BEYOU Jéremie 66
5 BOOZY AND THE KIKOUYOUS DE PAVANT Kito 73
6 BOSTIK FINDLEY CAUDRELIER-BENAC Charles 75
7 THALES TABARLY Erwan 82
8 CLIPTOL SPORT PELLECUER Laurent 98
9 L’ESPRIT D’EQUIPE PEAN Lionel 113
10 ESPOIR CREDIT AGRICOLE KRAUSS Oliver 140
11 SKANDIA DAVIES Samantha 145


Remaining race schedule:
Wednesday, 23rd June Porquerolles – Inshore racing
Thursday,24th June Porquerolles / Hyères
Friday, 25th June Porquerolles – Inshore racing
Saturday, 26th June Porquerolles – Inshore racing, close of regatta