Morvan and le Cam set pace

As Transat AG2R set sails from Concarneau

The Figaro class' Transat AG2R, doublehanded from Concarneau in Brittany to the French Caribbean paradise island of St Barts (via Madeira) got underway at 1400 this afternoon. 26 boats crossed the start line with race favourites Gildas Morvan and Jean le Cal setting the tempo for the 7 miles coastal race before the boats set off on the race course proper out into the Bay of Biscay.

The fleet of Figaros left the port at 1300, the last to leave being Concarneau-St Barth, winner of Friday's prologue race. With a depression over the centre of the Bay of Biscay, the start took place in 15 knot winds from the southeast and was attended by Yann Elies on his Open 60 Generali and Michel Desjoyeaux on Foncia, as well as Patrick Morvan on the Class 40 Apart City and Roland Jourdain while Seb Josse was skimming around on his Moth!

On time at 1400 the gun went with Gedimat (Tripon-Vittet) and Groupe Céléos leading off the line on the boat end, with Concarneau St Barth and Cercle Green leading the charge off to the left. Morvan and Le Cam on Cercle Vert were first to round the top winds and to head off on the race course proper.

The only major incident at the start was a collision between two of the other race favourites - Luisina Design (Drouglazet-Bouvet) and Financo (Troussel-Pratt). Both boats were forced to return to port but were able to rejoin the race later in the afternoon.

By 1700 the results from the race course showed Thierry Chabagny and Corentin Douguet aboard Suzuki Automobies as having taken the lead. However there was less than 0.7 miles separating the top ten competitors at this stage.

More pics on page 2...