40 knot conditions forecast

Figaro sailors batten down hatches as British boats suffer

The fleet of Figaro sailors competing in La Solitaire Afflelou le Figaro are feeling the strong conditions forecast: 25 to 30 knots and due to increase to 35 to 40 gusting 45 knots tonight. The wind his coming straight across the race course the solo sailors must take to get to La Coruña on the northwest tip of Spain. At present the fleet is situated slightly north of the rhumb line in order to get the best position when the wind shifts to the southwest this evening. This morning Nicolas Troussel on Financo is currently 169.7 miles from the finish of the third leg.

Racing for the 50 competitors over the next 36 hours is not going to be much fun, as even the most experienced will have their work cut out for them. It will be a slow and uncomfortable upwind stint sailing heavily reefed while at the same time the sailors need to keep the boat moving in a deteriorating sea state: already this morning the fleet were experiencing a 2.5m swell and this is due to build to 3 to 4m tonight. It will be a matter of taking care of the boat while continuing to be in race mode, for those who can. For many sailors in this fleet particularly the rookie first timers, it will be the first time they have experienced these kinds of conditions on their Figaro Bénéteau II boats.

Nicolas Troussel on Financo moved into the lead at lunchtime today with a small group of five competitors less than two miles astern. Thierry Chabagny ( Brossard), just to the south trails by 0.5 miles and Robert Nagy ( Véolia) by 1.2. In fifth place, overall race leader Fred Duthil ( Distinxion) has made up ground and is 1.9 miles from the leader and ahead of the ever dangeous Michel Desjoyeaux, second behind him overall.

"We are crashing around a bit here and you need to really hold on, as there are some pretty big waves," described Troussel over the VHF. "We are going to have our fair share of upwind sailing all the way to La Coruña."

The last 24 hours have been a disaster for the British boats. James Bird on GFI Group is now classed as 'abandoned' having decided to leave out the BXA mark, is now on a direct course to La Coruña. Meanwhile Nigel King on Nigel King Yachting has suffered an autopilot failure and has retired back to La Rochelle.

The estimated time of arrival into La Coruña continues to be Wednesday night or early Thursday.


Quotes from the boats:

Nicolas Lunven ( Bostik): "The anemometer reads 25 knots average wind and it is due to build. Things are not going too badly. I changed headsail at just the right time before the wind picked up which has allowed me to stay in control. I have also put a reef in the mainsail. The pilot is driving the boat quite well and I am making the most of it to get some eat something and get some rest. I passed Christian Bos who was on starboard to port of me. I can’t see anyone else. There is always something to do, some little things to fix and then we are going to have to drive soon…The anemometer reads 25 knots average wind speed and the wind should gradually pick up. I am happy that Jean-Pierre Nicol is in the lead because he is a friend of mine, but then I do hope I can get passed him!”

Thierry Chabagny (Brossard): "It is quite wet now and I am getting quite few sweeping over the deck. It is not easy to sleep and let the pilot work, ware crashing around quite a lot, so not all that nice. I am not pleased with my position as I am slightly left of all the others. I am going to try and fix that. These are tiring conditions, not as nice as the sailing under spinnaker downwind! I have a safety harness on and helming otherwise you just get thrown forwards and come crashing down."

Ronan Treussart (Groupe Celeos): "It could be worse, we could be getting 45 knots. It is exactly what they announced: Upwind in 30 knots. We should get the stronger conditions tonight. It is not going all that bad! I planned ahead and put a reef in and the solent sail up. It is really banging around though. I have just come back from going below deck to change jacket. I am sailing with the pilot on and got some sleep last night to try and gather as much energy as it is going to be a tough night driving the boat. I am alone with Kappa just above me and we are both on port tack. I reduced the sail area this morning at sunrise, when I was sailing under genoa. It quickly built to 20 knots and then 30; within two hours had changed to a solent and put a reef in the main. We might well have to put another reef in. I am enjoying being on the water; there is only one thing that bothers and that it is being wet."