Good start for Chabagny

As the Figaro's solo transat sets sail from Belle Ile

After the traditional farewell on the pontoons, the 14 Figaro solo sailors set sail for Belle-Île-en-Mer across the Atlantic bound for the tiny Caribbean island of Marie-Galante 3,436 miles away.


The boats left the dock in brilliant sunshine having bid farewell to their families, partners, friends egged on by a large crowd. Some like young François Gabart on Espoir Région Bretagne, consulted the weather for a final time while others such as the more experienced Nicolas Troussel ( Financo) and the champion de France de Course au Large in Solitaire and Gildas Morvan ( Cercle Vert), joked around and waited patiently to cast off.

On the water, a light five knot easterly wind was blowing however a strong tide made for an awkward start. At 1500 the start gun went and the boat headed for the first turning mark 1.2 miles to the east. Erwan Tabarly and Victor Jean-Noël were over early and had to restart. The rest of the boat divided into two groups, the first led by Thierry Chabagny, Nicolas Troussel and Yannig Livory opted for the left with Gérald Veniard, Gildas Morvan, Armel Tripon and Isabelle Joschke heading right.

A few lengths from the mark a shift to the left benefitted the boats on that side of the course and it was former Mini sailor Adrien Hardy on Agir Recouvrement appeared to be best placed to round first, but in fact it was Suzuki Automobiles skipper Thierry Chabagny who passing in front of him, followed by Figaro veteran Gérald Veniard and another former Mini sailor, Armel Tripon.