Solitaire du Figaro sets sail

Sam Davies pushed on to the rocks by fellow competitor

Today saw the start of the first leg in La Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro race, a 390 nautical mile course from Perros Guirec in northern France to Bilbao in northern Spain. This was the first of four legs of what many consider to be the world championship of singlehanded offshore racing. The 46-strong fleet who took the start line at 11am start includes many of the world’s top single handed sailors

Gildas Morvan on Cercle Vert had the best start, shaving the pin at the very last moment to quickly pull out a three boat length lead. Before the first mark however, it was Michel Desjoyeaux who had taken over first place. Aside from being a winner of the Vendée Globe, the Route du Rhum and The Transat, Desjoyeaux is also double winner of the Solitaire du Figaro.

The 46 Figaro Bénéteau 2 one-designs stretched the ½ mile length of the start line for the gathered crowds and spectator boat’s delight, while the overcast morning skies cleared for a sunny start. The Patrouille de France, honoured the sailors by flying low to blasting out smoke in the tricolore colours, over the fleet the as they crossed the start line.

At the Radio France mark it was the experienced 'Figarists' who had moved into the lead position at the end of the 9 mile inshore course before. Behind Desjoyeaux and the 2002 Solitaire du Figaro winner Kito de Pavant, Italy's Pietro d’Ali on Nanni Diesel sailing his first Solitaire du Figaro was holding fifth place close to the leaders.

After approximately 1h40 minutes of racing, Sam Davies’ Skandia ran aground on the rocks close to the Pierre du Chenal tower, just in front Perros-Guirec. Davies raised her red protest flag against another competitor, who appears to have not given her clear water. Following the agreement of Race Director Christian Gout, and the Race Committee, a member of the organisation stepped on board Skandia to check the state of the boat. After an initial assetment the damage does not seem likely to put Skandia at risk and as a result Davies is continuing with the race. Skandia will be hauled out in Bilbao to make further checks at the end of leg one.

Skipper of Crédit Maritime, Eric Drouglazet announced that he too had ran aground after the start of the race. Drouglazet, a former Solitaire du Figaro winner is also continuing and was in fourth place at the Radio France mark.

The skippers are expected to arrive in Bilbao from Tuesday afternoon.

First 10 to round the Radio France mark:
1 – Michel Desjoyeaux (Géant) à 12h34’
2 – Kito de Pavant (Groupe Bel) à 12h36’
3 – Laurent Pellecuer (Cliptol Sport) à 12h38’
4 – Gildas Morvan (Cercle Vert)
5 – Pietro d’Ali (Nanni Diesel)
6 – Eric Drouglazet (Crédit Maritime)
7 – Marc Emig (Total)
8 – Yann Eliès (Groupe Generali Assurances)
9 – Armel Tripon (Gedimat)
10 – Jérémie Beyou (Delta Dore)

Prior to the start several skippers gave their views on the start of leg 1:

“You must not miss out on the first miles of the race and lose the leaders," advises Sébastien Audigane, skipper of D’Aucy Cultive la vie. "We will not doubt have the current turn against us and have to negotiate it in the Morlaix bay, and then again at Ouessant, but it should be a fast race. I would normally sail fast, but do not know the area that well and have not sailed in a Figaro much this year. Now, I am here to do well, but that is easier said than done!”

Etienne Svilarich ( Sogeti): “Being a local on this leg, I know the area well, but then all those who are here do too! I think it will be a fast reaching race and if I can get to Bilbao in the middle of the fleet, that would be good.”

Banque Populaire's Jeanne Grégoire reckons it should be a fast first leg. “We should not be at sea for long, it should be quite quick in the Bay of Biscay, that would be good! It will be a leg where the rich get richer! The first miles are important; otherwise I am confident, the boat speed is good. It is reassuring, even though you can still hang around for 12 hours close to Bilbao, but then that is another story!”

Jean-Paul Mouren on M@rseillentreprises is competing in his 19th Solitaire du Figaro: “I am always a little worried about not doing well... It is always new for me and the rocks here I am not too sure about. I think we should all be within sight of each other until Ouessant and after that it will be a long tough reach”.

Gaël Bigot on Team 117 was eager to start: “I have been waiting a year for this! It is already satisfying to be here, at the start I am going to give it my all for both myself and my sponsors. It should really all go straight ahead on this leg, even though we should be downwind there should not be too many gaps. We must not muck up the start, it is a little worrying…”

Laurent Pellecuer on Cliptol Sport was bullish: “All good, we just need to go! If I am a little crafty and brave tonight and go and play with the rocks, I could make it to Ushant with the best and gallop down the Bay of Biscay with them.”