First female Figaro winner

After her success in the Mini, Isabelle Joschke leads the Cap Istanbul race fleet into Crete

Having been one of the most sucessful competitors in the Mini class, it was only a matter of timed before the determined Isabelle Joschke would show her talent in the Figaro. And so at 23:18:40 last time the French woman and her yacht Synergie were first home on the third leg of the Figaro's European Capital of Culture-Cap Istanbul race, 540 miles between Marzamemi, Sicily and Aghios Nikolaos on the Greek island of Crete.

Despite strong female Figarists such as Sam Davies and Jeanne Gregoire, Joschke is the first woman to have achieved a leg victory in the Figaro class event since Clare Francis back in the 1975 during the Solitaire (then known as La Course de l'Aurore).

Joschke took the lead in the 29 boat fleet two days out from reaching Crete, despite having to wrestle with her boat in strong conditions as they crossed from the Ionian Sea into the Aegean .

"I can't really believe it," commented Joschke on her arrival. "I certainly didn't expect this in my first Figaro season, but that just makes my win all the more pleasurable. I only began to believe I could do it when I was leading the fleet at Antitykhitira. I was then lucky enough to have the necessary wind to keep ahead. In fact the sailing off Crete was a real treat, even though I didn't sleep or eat the whole day. I had to hang on in there. The key to success? Strategy first of all. After that I've gained a great deal of speed since the first leg and naturally that's a motivation...”

Podium leg 3:

1 - Isabelle Joschke (Synergie) finished at 23h18'40'' in 3d 05h 37 min 40s
2 - Thierry Chabagny (Suzuki Automobiles) finished at 00h16' 32'' in 3d 6h 35' 32'', 57' 52'' behind the winner
3 - Nicolas Bérenger (Kone Elevators) finished at 00h25'55'' in 3d 6h 44' 55'', 1h07' 15'' behind the winner.