La Solitaire du Figaro - Top Spot Swap!
August 06, 2003

After a clement summer’s day of racing and over a third of the way into the Bay of Biscay at the latitude of the Gironde in south-west France, it was Pascal Bidégorry (Région Aquitaine) leading the fleet at 1300 BST. Behind him were Jérémie Beyou (Delta Dore) and the surprising Thierry Chabagny (Petit Navire, Le Bon Goût du Large) weaving along at the head of the pack after making around 6 knots of speed in 10 knots of wind today and during yesterday evening. At 0500 BST Loick Peyron had shot from 14th to 1st while Le Cléach did exactly the reverse. Peyron was revelling in his minute lead after a sorry performance on the last leg but with less than a mile separating the top eight boats at that time it proved to be a rather fleeting taste of glory as he was reduced down to 18th at the last ranking. Ahead of the 42 Figaro Bénéteau are a huge amount of tactical choices before rounding Belle-Ile to starboard and diving back down the Bay to La Rochelle. The weather on the course was being influenced by a high out to the west that has been tracking north northeast over the course of today along with a low over the centre of France. The gradient breeze clocked round further to the right during the day which benefited those sailing off to the east, namely Pascal Bidegorry and Eric Drouglazet. Interestingly, then leaders Peyron and Alain Gautier were on the west side of the leading pack, the latter also losing out now in 23rd. Brit, Sam Davies (Skandia) was in a satisfying 16th position midway up the fleet, with Sander Bakker(Egeria) up to 28, Corrado Agusta (Sector Sport Watches) also up to 36 and Unai Basurko de Miguel (Bizkaia) completing the greatly improved foreign contingent in 41st position closest to the French coast. The ETA has been moved forward to Thursday evening with 6 knots boat speed predicted in an 8 to 12 knot north-easterly providing the fleet with some fine spinnaker sailing on the home straight to La Rochelle.

The morning radio session passed without a hitch amongst the whole fleet bar Lionel Pean (Nouvel Observateur) who later called the organisers to report that all was well. Gildas Morvan (Cercle Vert) reported some sticky oil pellets on his rudder, remnants of the sinking of the Prestige during the same storm that thrashed the fleet in the Route du Rhum now 9 months ago. Meantime, potential winner of the last leg, Marc Thiercelin on Bermudes reported electronics problems that may well explain his position.38 places down the fleet. At the time of the morning session the troops were situated 75 miles to the west of Biscarosse, 10 miles east of the direct course, strewn laterally across a 6.5 mile stretch.

A quick glance over the fleet shows that the upwind pros have it. These pure speed specialists like Armel Le Cléac’h, Pascal Bidégorry, Charles Caudrelier, Jérémie Beyou (Delta Dore), Erwan Tabarly (Thales) and Thierry Chabagny (Petit Navire) seem to be bound together into a 2 mile stretch, “le professeur” Mich’Desj (Géant) also well in the match up with the top ten. Winner of the leg one, Yann Eliès (Groupe Générali Assurances), was in a relatively disappointing 25th at 1300 BST, just under 8 miles from the leaders. The first rankings of the day showed top rookie to be Yves Le Blévec (Rêve de Grand-Actual Interim), who was once again putting on a staggering show in the general rankings in. Surprisingly he has dropped off to 19th just behind Peyron during the day after heading closer inland, a move which may well come good later with the thermal breezes off land.

Just over 25 miles separate 41 Figaros while final racer, French Basque Amaiur Alfaro (Eki) is starting to lag behind his fellow countryman on Bizkaia, right out to the west and east respectively, perhaps hedging their bets and set to take over the fleet from the outside and the inside? British rookie, Davies is currently leading for the first time in the Solitaire du Figaro in 16th, 0.1 miles ahead of former top rookie, Marc Emig. Dutchman Sander Bakker is making good gains and is currently 4th in the rookie rankings. With the effects of land playing a big part in the proceedings as the fleet approach the French coast, the tight-bunching is in for a mighty shake up during the next 24 hours...

Quotes from the Boats

Franck-Yves Escoffier (Crêpes Whaou !) : “The boat is going well and I’m happy. I’m trying to hook the 4-8 boats ahead of me. ON these race, it you don’t put on a good performance it means that the sailor is not well. My goal is to be in the top ten, even though I know that it will be very hard.”

Pascal Bidégorry (Région Aquitaine) : “I feel very, very well. I managed to rest a bit last night, more than usual even. I think I’ve been shifted over to the right as I hoped for. The wind was full on west and shifted right to direct north. At the start, I had big ideas about what I wanted to do as far as Birvideaux. The wind will strengthen in the afternoon… I’m going to tack and find myself in the lead! My fear is something hitting the keel or the rudders. It’s disgusting to see the sea in such a state. It’s become a big dustbin and that really stresses me out. In La Rochelle, I’m going to see my little daughter… I want to give her a beautiful birthday present.”

Denis Horeau, Race Director following the fleet on the water: “Incredibly clement conditions with an omnipresent sun and an established 9 knot wind at 340 degrees since the start of the afternoon. As a result, half the fleet have benefited from a lift and have had a little more wind than the group to the west. The seas have flattened out and with the weaker wind and the soaring temperatures we could easily be in the West Indies. The conditions are such that the skippers are relaxed. We have crossed ten or so boats today were resting in their bunks.”

Translation Kate Jennings

...Official site La Solitaire Du Figaro