Figaro baptism of fire

The Artemis Offshore Academy sailors first official solo Classe Figaro race is just one month away

Training alongside the Lorient Grande Large training group since November, the time has almost come for Artemis Offshore Academy Rookies Rob Bunce, Andrew Baker and Robin Elsey to put what they have learned into practice. In just one month’s time the trio will make their solo-racing debut in the Solo Basse Normandie, the first race of the 2015 Classe Figaro season.

Starting on Friday 27 March, the Solo Basse Normandie will see a Figaro fleet of up to 45 boats, as well as Mini 650s and Class 40s, race the 196 miles between Granville and Cherbourg on the northwest coast of France. The Solo Basse Normandie is a relatively short race, but is not one to be taken lightly - it may only require only two nights at sea, but skippers can expect to get little to no sleep.

With top Classe Figaro names like Yann Elies (two-time winner of the Solitaire du Figaro), Paul Meilhat (winner in 2014), Corentin Horeau (winner in 2013) and Charlie Dalin (3rd in 2014 Solitaire) already on the entry list, the Academy Rookies are set to be thrown in at the deep end.

Artemis Offshore Academy Event Coach Marcus Hutchinson commented: “Regardless of its length, the Solo Basse Normandie will be the Rookies first competitive experience against competitors they’ve never sailed against and who are by all definition at the top of their game. The hardest thing for Rob, Andrew and Robin will be consistently doing the little things right, staying focused on what is really important and keeping fast and lucid during what will no doubt be a fairly intense 24 to 36 hour race.”

To prepare for the start of their first competitive season, the AOA rookies have taken part in a number of short coastal races against the Lorient Grande Large fleet – Bunce describing solo night racing as “really cool, but scarier than in the daytime!”

While they’ve been keeping up with the more experienced sailors in training, they know that it’ll be a whole different ball game out on the course as Andrew Baker explained: “I’ve learned a lot from our practice races in Lorient. My competitive streak is always pushing me to improve and work harder and I’ve never yet felt like I’m slow in the fleet. However, there’s a big difference between training and competitive racing. Our next challenge will be to stay in contention with a fleet comprised of some of the best offshore sailors and for days on end.”

Before the start of the Solo Basse Normandie the three Rookies, as well as Academy Alumni Sam Matson, Henry Bomby, Jack Bouttell, Alan Roberts and Nick Cherry (all also taking part in the race), will embark on a 500+ mile training leg from Lorient, France to Torbay, UK via the island of Lundy on the north Devon Coast – rehearsing part of the up and coming Solitaire du Figaro leg from Torbay to Dieppe. For the Rookies the training run marks the longest solo stint of their career so far, sailing as part of a 16 Figaro fleet made up of both French and English competitors.

“The training leg will be not just a huge test of our sailing ability, but endurance as well,” said Rob Bunce. “It will also be a really good introduction to Figaro racing ahead of the Solo Basse Normandie. The training leg will be physically harder than anything we’ve done before, just because of the sheer length of it. It will be great practice for our first race, which looks set to have lots of corners, tidal gates and rocks to contend with, making it very mentally draining, as well as physically demanding. Then there’s the weather!”

Fellow Academy Rookie Robin Elsey agreed that the length of the training leg would be the biggest challenge for the Figaro freshman. He also recognises the value of spending three or four days at sea with the more experienced French skippers: “Anything we can learn from the pros on this trip will be gold dust going into our first race. They have more experience and know this area of coastline so much better than us. Although it will be exhausting, the training leg will put us in good stead for the Solo Basse Normandie – it’s almost an endurance dress rehearsal.”

The Academy Rookies and five AOA graduates set to compete in this years Solitaire du Figaro will arrive in Torbay, UK on Thursday 12th March as part of the 500 mile training run. After four days in Torbay promoting this year’s UK Solitaire stopover, the fleet will sail from Torbay to Granville for the start of the Solo Basse Normandie on Friday 27 March, 1430 CET.

The Solo Basse Normandie entry list

1. Paul Meilhat/SMA – winner of the 2014 edition
2. Yann Elies/Queguiner Leucémie Espoir
3. Corentin Horeau/Bretagne Credit Mutuel – winner of the 2013 edition
4. Charlie Dalin/Skipper Macif 2015
5. Yoann Richomme/Skipper Macif 2014
6. Thierry Chabagny/GEDIMAT
7. Martin Le Pape/Ovimpex Secours Populaire – Rookie
8. Benoît Mariette/Entrepose – Rookie
9. Robin Elsey/Artemis 43 – Rookie
10. Rob Bunce/Artemis 37 – Rookie
11. Andrew Baker/Artemis 23 – Rookie
12. Henry Bomby/TBC
13. Alan Rorbets/TBC
14. Nicolas Cherry/Redshift
15. Sam Matson/TBC
16. Jack Bouttell/TBC
17. Alexis Loison/Groupe FIVA – winner of the 2012 edition
18. Claire Pruvot/ Port de Caen Ouistreham
19. Sophie FAG UET/ Espoir Region Basse Normandie – Rookie

Past Academy Solo Basse Normandie results

2012 (of 8 competitors)
3rd Nick Cherry – Rookie
4th Henry Bomby – Rookie
5th Oliver Bond – Rookie
7th Aaron Cooper – Rookie

2014 (of 29 competitors)
2nd Sam Goodchild
7th Henry Bomby
10th Alan Roberts – Rookie
11th Rich Mason – Rookie
12th Ed Hill
13th Jack Bouttell
14th Sam Matson – Rookie