49 for the Figaro

Top field once again for the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro

This year the Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro is set to be yet again one of sailing’s main events, with 49 sailors due to take the start line in Perros-Guirec, France. From 1-28 August 2005, renowned sailors, amateurs and rookies will face 1,710 nautical miles of solo racing at its most competitive from Perros-Guirec to Port-Bourgenay via stopovers in Getxo-Bilbao, La Rochelle and Cork (Crosshaven) in Ireland.

Each year the entry list for La Solitaire includes a wide selection of sailors. Experience among the competitors this time includes seven around the world races (Vendée Globe, Jules Verne Trophy, The Race, Whitbread), more than 100 trans-Atlantic race crossings (Route du Rhum, Transat Jacques Vabre, Québec-St Malo, Transat AG2R, BPE Trophy, Mini-Transat, etc.), five America’s Cup, almost 30 Tour de France à la Voile, Fastnet, Sydney – Hobart, Rolex Cup, Match Racing, etc.

The Skippers
Among these 49 skippers, Charles Caudrelier, winner of the 2004 edition, will be defending his title. He will be competing against the great sailors of the Figaro Bénéteau circuit, Jérémie Beyou, Yann Eliès, Sébastien Audigane, Eric Drouglazet, Kito de Pavant… Both Michel Desjoyeaux and Armel Le Cléac’h will be leaving their trimarans behind to compete to return to the race they have both previously won.

Several names have not appeared on the Solitaire du Figaro entry list for 15 years! Pierre Mas last took part in 1990 while Cyril Rognon is back after a 13 year absence.
The bizuths, or rookies (Solitaire du Figaro first timers) are also due on the start line such as Stéphane Sevaux, Pharmacist, Jacques Einhorn, commercial Director, Laurent Nabart, Manager, Marc Lepesqueux, Boat Charter Manager.

Also among them are more familiar names such as Yannick Bestaven (winner of the Mini-Transat 2001), Jean-Christophe Caso (2nd in the Regatta Rubicon 2002), David Raison, (2nd in the Mini-Transat 2003).

Once again there will be three women: Sam Davies, Jeanne Grégoire and Liz Wardley
and four nations taking part: German, English, Australian and Italian.

La Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro is a race full of suspense, with plenty of leaps and bounds and surprises. The 2005 edition should not go against the rules!

The dates:

PERROS-GUIREC
Afflelou prologue: Friday 5 August at 18h30
Start 1st leg: Sunday 7 August at 11h00

GETXO-BILBAO
Expected arrival: Tuesday 9 August
Start 2nd leg: Friday 12 August at 12h00

LA ROCHELLE
Expected arrival: Sunday 14 August
Start 3rd leg: Wednesday 17 August at 17h00

CORK (CROSSHAVEN)
Expected arrival: Saturday 20 August
Start 4th leg: Tuesday 23 August at 11h00

PORT-BOURGENAY
Expected arrival: Friday 26 August
Afflelou closing race: Sunday 28 August at 15h00

Entry list:

Skipper	Born	From	Boat Name	Previous Figaros
MOUREN Jean-Paul	1953	Marseille		18
DROUGLAZET Eric	1967	Tregunc	CREDIT MARITIME	12
MORVAN Gildas	1968	Landeda	CERCLE VERT	9
BEYOU Jérémie	1976	Loctudy	DELTA DORE	8
DESJOYEAUX Michel	1965	La Forêt Fouesnant	GEANT	8
ELIES Yann	1974	Saint-Brieuc	GROUPE GENERALI ASSURANCE	8
PEAN Lionel	1956	Le Cannet	L’ESPRIT D’EQUIPE	8
PELLECUER Laurent	1974	Montpellier	CLIPTOL Sport	8
VITTET  Dominic	1957	Crac'h	ATAO AUDIO SYSTEM	8
LEPESQUEUX Marc	1968	Fleury s/ Orne	Les Maisons PIERRE	7
AUDIGANE Sébastien	1968	Concarneau	D'Aucy	6
ATTANASIO Romain	1977	La Forêt Fouesnant		5
CAUDRELIER Charles	1974	La Forêt Fouesnant	BOSTIK	5
de PAVANT Kito	1961	Montferrier s/ Lez	GROUPE BEL	5
KOCH Antoine	1978	Fouesnant		5
LE CLEAC'H Armel	1977	Fouesnant	FONCIA - TBS	5
TABARLY Erwan	1974	Fouesnant	THALES	5
ALFARO Amaiur	1972	Senpere	WWW.PAYS-BASQUE-ENTREPRISES.COM	4
BOS Christian	1964	Port Louis	RAYNAL ET ROQUELAURE	4
BOUGARD Patrice	1955	Sautron		4
CHABAGNY Thierry	1972	Nevez		4
EINHORN Jacques	1951	Queven	CONNIVENCE	4
LE GAL Franck	1973	Plouharnel	LENZE	4
MAS Pierre	1957	Paris	KOME	4
PETIT Benoît	1972	Brest	DEFI SANTE VOILE	4
TROUSSEL Nicolas	1974	Plougasnou		4
GREGOIRE Jeanne	1976	Concarneau	BANQUE POPULAIRE	3
NABART Laurent	1970	Forciolo		3
ROGNON Cyrille	1966	La Rochelle	ENO - NAVI LINE	3
BERENGER Nicolas	1972	Port Louis		2
DAVIES Samantha (GB)	1974	UK	SKANDIA	2
EMIG Marc	1969	Marseille	TOTAL	2
SEVAUX Stéphane	1955	Ecommoy		2
BIGOT Gael	1976	Luçon	TEAM 117	1
BOUVET Christophe	1963	Annecy	BO TRAVAIL !	1
DUTHIL Frédéric	1973	Larmor Plage	BROSSARD	1
KRAUSS Oliver	1980	La Forêt Fouesnant	ESPOIR CREDIT AGRICOLE	1
TRIPON Armel	1975	Nantes	GEDIMAT	1
VENIARD Gérald	1970	La Rochelle	SCUTUM	1
WARDLEY Liz (Aus)	1979	Crac'h	SOJASUN	1
Rookies
BESTAVEN Yannick	1972	La Rochelle	AQUARELLE.COM
CASO Jean Christophe	1971	La Rochelle
D'ALI Pietro (Ita.)	1963	Italy	Nanni Diesel
DEFERT Eric	1976	Ile Tudy
FOURNIER FOCH Thierry	1962	Paris
RAISON David	1972	Saint-Nazaire
RIECHERS Jorg (All.)	1968	German
SVILARICH Etienne	1980	Perros-Guirec	SOGETI
THETIOT Sébastien	1978	Erdeven