Blustery start

Sailors head off into Bay of Biscay gale on final leg of the Solitaire du Figaro

At 12h49 (local Spanish time) the fleet of 52 sailors competing in the La Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro race set off on a shortened course and at a revised time for the fourth and final leg of the race from Gijon, Spain to Quiberon in France.

The initial departure time of 15h00 was brought forward to midday at yesterday’s briefing. This morning the Race Committee delayed the re-start time slightly in order to allow for the skippers to be prepared and ready to cross the start line.

The Radio France mark, positioned 1.8 miles downwind from the start and was reached by the frontrunners in just 20 minutes. Gildas Morvan on Cercle Vert was first to round, followed by Charles Caudrelier on Bostik Findley in second and Erwan Tabarly on Thalès in third.

For the start the wind had already picked up to 15-20 knots from a southeasterly direction and the skippers were ready and waiting for it to swing round to southwesterly. At 16h00 the fleet were sailing at average speeds of 9 to 10 knots on a direct course to Quiberon under main sail and solent. The wind had picked up to 25-30 knots from the NNE with good sea conditions.

The effects of the front, that has been fast approaching is already into the Golfe de Gascaigne and the fleet will feel its effect at around 19h00 GMT: 35 knots of steady wind is forecast with gusts of 45-50 knots. It is due to these conditions that the start was brought forward and the course shortened.

The route the skippers are taking is direct, leaving out the marks that would have kept the skippers inshore on the Brittany coast where the seas will be rough. The 280 mile course will see the boats round the Cardineaux before heading for the finish line in Quiberon.

Averaging 13 knots, the boats should arrive late Thursday morning into the Bay of Quiberon. The route will “not be without its risks,” commented Nicholas Troussel on D’Arcy. “The rough part (of the race) will be tonight. 35 knots of steady wind is no mean feat to get through, however as long as it is steady it will be ok. It is the gusts that are dangerous. You need to know how to change the kite pretty quick, or otherwise know how to keep it up!… we will have to take care.” he added before the start.

Experience and knowledge of the boat and its materials will be key for the skippers as they tackle the strong gusts and heavy sea, particularly as they are sailing single-handed. The competitors are feeling a combination of apprehension and excitement on this leg, where they are taking care to keep damage to an absolute limit, while also aiming to race as fast as they can.