Figaro shortens course

A weekend of no wind has caused the race officials to cut 130 miles from leg one of the Solitaire du Figaro

The light conditions felt over the Bay of Biscay over the past two days have forced the Race Committee to shorten the 450 mile leg from La Rochelle in Vigo by some 130 miles. The 2006 winner, Nicolas Troussel's Financo, continues to hold a lead of 20 miles over his 49 rivals and is now nearly 60 miles ahead of last placed Fabrice Amadeo on Aquarelle.com.

The decision to shorten the course was announced by Jacques Caraës, Race Director, over the VHF to the 50 competitors this afternoon at 17:30 local Spanish time. The new finish line is to be set just East of Cabo Ortegal in Santa Marta Bay. Security checks will be carried out after the finish line before the skippers motor to the Galician port of Vigo, hosting the first race stopover.

Caraës explains why the course has been shortened: “The reason is simple, with little wind and the current weather forecasts over the whole of the course, the last of the competitors would not have reached the finish before Thursday, which is the start day for the second leg. Together with the Race Committee and the whole Race Office team it made the most sense to use to reduce the course and now is the right time to do so. The finish line will be set just east of Cape Ortegal, a choice which will not benefit one or others on the option taken to the north or south. Basically the first boats should arrive Monday night and then motor to Vigo. The skippers have been informed of this decision. The three official support boats as well as the French Naval Patrol ship assure us that the whole fleet has received the message.”

Richard Silvani from Meteo France sheds some light over the conditions competitors should see and how it would have affected them: “Over the next 24 hours we should see wind coming in from the south veering southwest then west with 10-15 knots right up to the Spanish coast for the new finish off Cape Ortegal. The wind should then weaken and become variable and prevailing southerly. So had the Race Committee not decided to shorten course the competitors would not have had much time to reach Vigo and recover before the start of the second leg on Friday. By shortening course, the fleet will gain time on the approach to the Galician coastline towards Vigo where conditions are going to be variable and light.” The new ETA for the finish is for “around 00:30 local time (22:30 GMT) in the early hours of Tuesday morning” concludes Silvani.

The light conditions experienced over the past 24 have evolved and the freshening breeze of 15-20 knots, has come in from the south, which means that those well positioned towards the front of the fleet, will make the most gains. The wind veering west, then weakening will not going to make life any easier for those towards the back end of the fleet.

The gains Nicolas Troussel has made throughout the day are as a result of getting to this breeze first and his advantage only increases with each position report. At 1900 Fred Duthil ( Distinxion Automobiles) held second place 20.1 miles behind the leader with Erwan Tabarly on Athema third. The top half of the fleet remain tightly bunched, within 40 miles of the leader.

Sole British competitor Andy Greenwood was in 18th position mid-afternoon, but has since dropped to 28th place.

Nicolas Troussel gave his impressions: “The wind is coming in gently, we have about 5 knots now, still not going fast and we are still far from the finish! I am quite surprised to find myself ahead, last night I was well situated, did a few good tacks and found myself in the lead this morning. It is hard to find the time to sleep, I constantly had to change the spinnaker and Genoa yesterday and now have to trim the sails and stay stuck to the tiller.

"We have had 5 knots, so it really is a snail’s race. I do not drink much, so have had something like 7 litres since the start and have managed to eat hot food, a dry freeze meal this morning otherwise lots of ham and cheese.

"The wind is still going to take some time to come in, we should get it on the nose then it should veer round to the south, but I need to keep an eye on the weather files and I am sure we will get a clearer idea tomorrow.

"The little gap I have built is great, but there is still a long way to go and things change. This Figaro is going to be played out on the last leg!”

Mini turned Figaro sailor Isabelle Joschke ( Synergie) recounted: “All is going well the wind is coming in gently and there is no time for boredom. The first night was quite tough so made a real effort to try and get enough sleep but it did mean you had to stay on deck, then on the second leg I got some more sleep to try and keep a clear mind. We are going to have to take care to hold on to the gains for the next stage.

"I did not expect this, but knew that we would cross through the sunny anticyclone conditions, but this is the first time it is this long. You just have to stop looking at the time and loose the notion of it passing. It just seems to have stopped. I am eating quite a bit and drinking plenty as you can’t help but loose a lot of liquid; I have never drank as much on a race before. I listen to the radio and enjoy Dr. Jean Yves (the Race Doctor’s radio show from the medical boat on the water). I do not talk much, but like to listen. I listen to music too, so not complaining!

"I am not the first rookie and the position reports do not mean much. You just must not get caught up in it all. In the same way as you must not worry if you pass the first mark in last place. Just have to say that this is not it, keep at it.”

Robert Nagy ( Theolia) adds: “The conditions I have are the same as the others, light. When you are up front it can be fun and when you are behind it is tough. Last night I was forty metres behind Jeanne ( Banque Populaire) together with Nicolas Berenger ( Kone Ascenseurs) and just got left behind, stuck where I was. I thought it might have been a bit of a question of luck but then you look and see that actually the good ones are all up front. Can’t say it is only luck. Those doing well will only do better once the effect of the depression comes in.”

Christian Bos Région Midi Pyrénées, who was in second place earlier but has since dropped off the poling: “It is nice to be up to second place, I was a bit worried last night, a bit down, it felt like I had hit a windless patch, but have caught up so things are not too bad for now. I have had to change the sails so many times since the start of the race…but right now things are okay. I remain alert knowing I still have half the race to go. All that said, I have not had that much sleep, only when I have the genoa up and then it’s a matter of a ten-minute nap. When the wind settles, that is when you try and get some rest.

"I must say I am happy to have stocked enough water and food! Drinking lots and trying to keep myself hydrated because when you do get dehydrated exhaustion sets in. Nicolas Troussel is ahead and seems to have got away, but then I am not too worried. Those up front will benefit from the first effects of the depression and then the chance to get some rest will come.”