First solo offshore

Figaros arrive in Port Camargue after leg from Marseilles in Generali Mediterranee

The first offshore race of the Figaro class' Generali Mediterranee concluded today after a 110 mile overnight run from Marseilles west to Port Carmargue. The 32 Figaros set sail just before midday yesterday in a 10 knot north northwesterly breeze.

After Armel l'Cleach on board Crealine dominated the windward-leewards on Saturday it was the old Figaro hands who took over the reins in the offshore race. This turned into a three way match race between former Figaro winner Eric Drouglazet on David Oliver, Gildas Morvan on Cercle Verte and Erwan Tabarly on Thales.

At the start it was Eric Drouglazet who led followed by meteorologist Gilles Chiorri on Meteo Consult Group and Yann Eliès on Group Generali Insurances.

Overnight the breeze eased off at a time when the boats were passing the mouth of the Rhone. The experienced Figaro sailors such as all three of the race leaders chose to play the currents inshore here rather than staying offshore, a tactic which clearly paid.

After a slow crawl into Port Carmargue the race was eventually won by Drouglazet who crossed the line at 0652 local time this morning. Incredibly Morvan and Tabarly were less than one minute behind him. Drouglazet now leads the Generali Mediterranee overall.

Among the top finishers were some surprises such as rookie Figaro sailor Yves le Blévec on Reve de Grand - Actual Interim and Mini sailor Jeanne Gregoire on Skipper AG2R who was 10th. Le Blévec now tops the rookie division for those sailing their first season in the Figaro class.

It was a disappointing race for British skipper Sam Davies. After a good start and and first upwind beat, Skandia was positioned in ninth place rounding the first windward mark. "All the things I was worrying most about before the start, like messing up a hoist or a drop or being at the back of the fleet at the start, were just not a problem and I felt really confident in my boat handling," said Davies. Skandia kept up to speed with the leaders as the wind kicked in topping 30 knots on the close reach and run, but when it came to the second 60-mile beat (half the length of the entire race), Davies made the wrong call.

"I didn't realise about the gulf stream coming out of the Rhone," said Davies. "There are lots of different currents and eddies in this stretch of water and the majority of the fleet stayed inshore sailing to the currents. I went inshore but felt the wind was dropping as night was falling, I opted to go offshore in the hope of finding better wind." By dawn her error was evident as Davies watched the fleet round the final mark in the distance. To add insult to injury Skandia fell into a hole and sat motionless for nearly two hours before reaching the finish line off Port Camargue after 23 hours of racing.

"The better you become with some stuff on the boat, like the manoeuvres, you don't have to think about them so much," said Davies. "This means you can then concentrate on the areas where you are losing out - it was a harsh lesson but I won't be making that mistake again."

Currently Sam is lying 27th and is 9th newbie in the fleet.

The 32 Bénéteau Figaro one-design fleet will be passing the entrance of the Rhone again the day after tomorrow as they race on the 190 mile offshore leg eastwards to Beaulieu. Tomorrow will see another two inshore windward/leeward races held off Port Camargue.


RESULTS - RACE 1/2/3 - 16 JUNE:
(Skipper/boat name/race result/overall position/total points)
NB: double points scored for offshore legs

Eric Drouglazet / DAVID OLIVER / 4-4-1 / 1st overall (10 points)
Gildas Morvan / CERCLE VERT / 3-3-2 / 2nd overall (10 points)
Erwan Tabarly / THALES / 8-8-3 / 3rd overall (22 points)
Jérémie Beyou / DELTA DORE / 2-5-8 / 4th overall (23 points)
Armel Le Cleac'h / CREALINE / 1-1-11 / 5th overall (24 points)
Sébastien Audigane / E LECLERC / 12-6-5 / 6th overall (28 points)
Gwenael Riou / ESPOIR CREDIT AGRICOLE / 9-12-4 / 7th overall (29 points)
Laurent Pellecuer / AON / 17-2-6 / 8th overall (31 points)
Gilles Chiorri / METEO CONSULT GROUPE / 14-9-9 / 9th overall (41 points)
Yves Le Blevec* / REVE DE GRAND - ACTUAL INTERIM / 24-11-7 / 10th overall (49 points)
Samantha Davies * / SKANDIA / 20-27-30 / 27th overall (107 points)

* Newcomer to event or in French "Bizuth" ie rookie

ROOKIE STANDINGS:
Yves Le Blevec / REVE DE GRAND - ACTUAL INTERIM (49 points)
Franck-Yves Escoffier / CREPES WHAOU! (68 points)
Christopher Pratt / CAFE MALONGO (69 points)
Thierry Chabagny / PETIT NAVIRE (70 points)
Christophe Artaud / PETITS-PETONS (74 points)
Marc Emig / IN EXTREMIS (76 points)
Stéphane Sevaux / PLUS PHARMACIE (90 points)
Eric Pilat / ALTAVENTURE/ NSM (104 points)
Samantha Davies / SKANDIA (107 points)
Sander Bakker / STERN GROEP (109 points)
Corrado Agusta / SECTOR SPORT WATCHES (112 points)