40 knot battering

War stories from la Solitaire Afflelou le Figaro as the competitors struggle to make the final miles to la Coruna

The depression that has swept over the fleet of Figaro solo sailors competing on leg three of La Solitaire Afflelou le Figaro to la Coruna continues to influence conditions on the race course. Strong winds of up to 50 knots last night, together with rough cross seas and breaking waves has made life on board the Figaro Bénéteau IIs tough in the extreme. While some are attempting to continue to race, for others it has been a case of survival. The latest positions show the lateral separation across the race course has reduced to 80 miles with Nicolas Lunven ( Bostik) at 66.7 miles from the finish at 3pm holding a narrow 0.3 mile lead over Corentin Douguet ( E.Leclerc / Bouygues Telecom) who is finally getting some payback having taken the northerly option.

Strong winds and rough seas have battered the fleet of 45 remains sailors: the wind gradually built in force to reach 45 knots, even 50 for some, at the height of the gale last night. Conditions stabilised slightly but continue to be tough throughout today. The Medical Support Boat, one of the security boats following the fleet, reported experiencing a steady 40 knots and a rough and cross sea with breaking waves. "Competitors will be feeling the same and experiencing the same conditions. From what I have gathered over the VHF from some, they are very tired and quite shattered. This depression has been very long, deep and violent," commented Jean-Yves Chauve, the race doctor.

Patrick Eliès, winner of all four stages in the 1979 edition of the race is skippering the Medical Boat, situated at the head of the fleet. The final leg of the race in "1979 from Kinsale in Ireland to Concarneau in Brittany, was sailed in similar conditions" explains Eliès, "we has a violent storm, 50 knots. But then I was a bit younger so it was different. The conditions are not particularly easy for the fleet. We have had quite violent gusts and also a very confused sea with breaking waves, which means you can’t make up much ground. We get 34 knots so we think the wind is going to ease and suddenly it is back up to 45 knots. Having seen Fred Duthil sailing yesterday, I was really surprised at just how seaworthy the boats are and how safely the competitors sail. The skippers are good and the boats are wonderful."

On the water, the boats furthest north now making heading south for the northwestern tip of Spain and the finish line. "I think that the west option will end up paying off and think they will get through, because those close to shore will find it hard to get round when the wind veers to the west. For now with the wind conditions we have, it not straightforward for anyone!” concludes Eliès.

The Race Director, Jacques Caraës reported on the conditions at sea: "Last night conditions were not easy for sailing. We had to brace ourselves on board the catamaran to not be knocked over. We sailed with just the storm sail up and towards the North West. We did however have VHF contact with quite a number of the sailors to reassure many and the French Navy Patrol ship, La Gracieuse, did a very good job covering those to the south to give out the weather bulletins and latest position reports to all."

Corentin Douguet ( E.Leclerc / Bouygues Telecom) has an average 7.4 knots as opposed to Lunven’s 6.4 with Nicolas Troussel ( Financo) in third place following Corentin’s run south. Michel Desjoyeaux ( Foncia) is further North and is 19th for now.
When the wind shift does come in, the ones furthest north and west could continue on one tack down to the finish, while those to the south, notably Frank Le Gal ( Lenze) in 4th place, Gérald Veniard ( Scutum) in 11th place and Christian Bos ( Belle Ile en Mer), let alone those close to shore, Jean-Paul Nicol, Marc Emig ( AS.T Group) and Grégoire le Miere ( Basse-Normandie OTCes Group) could lose ground as they continue to tack upwind to round the northern point of Galicia to reach La Coruña.

Quotes from the boats:

Aymeric Belloir (Cap 56): "Last night it was survival modes as conditions became really rough. The worst of it came through last night, which was quite testing. One of the lines holding the reef in came undone, so I had a little bit of work do to but now it is ok. Since the sea has built I have avoided going to the front of the boat in the big waves, its too risky. I have spent a lot of time driving to boat to look after the mainsail. This morning here was a light close by but hard to make out on the water. I am drinking lots to keep hydrated; it is not a four star or the Ritz, but I do have small cereal bars and I am not at all hungry. For a summer cruise to Spain, we have seen better!”

Frédéric Rivet (Novotel Caen): "It is really a battle, a true battle, I have passed the front, for now I am doing ok and it is really hard to get any rest. I have an electrical fault and autopilot that is playing up which means I have to spend lots of time driving the boat; this whole story is quite tiring. I think that I am mucking up my strategy, but navigating is easier to get out of this mess; on a starboard tack, on port I am scared of breaking the boat. Last night the wind built to 50 knots. Now I have one reef in the solent headsail and two in the main sail and conditions are slightly more manageable with 38 – 40 knots of wind. It is quite extreme getting 50 knots when sailing solo like this, but I have kept my safety line on since yesterday."