La Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro 2004 -
Skandia In Starting Blocks For Penultimate Solitaire
Leg
Since
her arrival in Saint Gilles two days ago, Sam
has been busy preparing Skandia for this next
leg as well as grabbing some well-earned sleep.
The 29 year old British skipper is more than pleased
with her overall position in the event at this
stage. Her strategy from the outset was consistency
and her time at the offshore training school in
Port la Foret has served her well enabling her
to compete on a more equal footing with the more
experienced Figaro sailors.
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Sam
Davies. Photo© DPPI
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The
intensity of the competition will continue to
accelerate on this tough third leg that throws
up a mix of inshore and offshore racing. The skippers
know they cannot risk a big mistake bringing a
time penalty that could effect their overall ranking
before heading into the crucial final leg.
This
third leg is, in effect, divided into three parts.
The first will take the Solitaire fleet north
to the Birvideaux lighthouse just by Belle-Ile.
They will then cross the 284 miles of the Bay
of Biscay to the Burela a L'Ouest buoy on the
Iberian peninsula, before sailing the final 75
miles along the northern Spanish coast to the
Asturian port of Gijon.
FROM SAM PRE-START:
Course:
"Today's race will start like a round-the-cans
race, which I really like, and then we will head
towards the Birideaux lighthouse. This will be
the most difficult part of the leg as the course
is very coastal and affected by thermals and the
geographical environment. I know that I will have
to stay very alert for those 75 miles! After that
mark it will be important not to relax too much
and fall asleep as Bay of Biscay is very busy.
Personally I am really looking forward to taking
Skandia the 284 miles across the Bay. For me the
most stressful part will be the final 75 miles
along the Spanish coast as this is a stretch of
water that I do not know at all."
Weather:
"It looks like there will be light winds
for most of this leg. I suppose I should be happy
that at least there is wind! There is a predicted
area of depression coming just after the start
so we will have to see turns out as it will probably
affect our passage across Biscay."
Objectives:
"I suppose my main objective is to get Skandia
to Gijon as quickly and safely as possible. As
I have said previously, I really want to be a
player in the Solo Championship of France, so
I want to try and get into the top ten overall
and each stage of the this event counts towards
that. I am pleased with my performance so far
and, thankfully, have not made too many errors.
All I can hope is that I maintain the level of
progress that I have to date - both into Gijon
and finally into Quiberon."
POSITIONS
AFTER LEG 2:
1
Jérémie Beyou, Delta Dore 114h25'00"
2 Armel le Cléach, Foncia-TBS +1'28"
3 Charles Coudrelier, Bostik +11'43"
4 Yann Eliès, Groupe Générali
Assurances +36'12"
5 Dominic Vittet, ATAO +40'16"
6 Eric Drouglazet, Crédit Maritime +1h05'35"
7 Oliver Krauss, Espoir Crédit Agricole
+1h19'06"
8 Benoit Petit, Défi Santé Voile
+1h48'50"
9 Erwann Tabarly, Thalès +1h54'24"
10 Jean-Luc Nélias, Chauss-Europ +1h56'55"
----
13 Sam Davies, Skandia +2h01'26"
La
Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro 2004
1st
Stage
Tuesday 27 July – Caen to Portsmouth (160
miles)
2nd
Stage
Wednesday 30 July – Portsmouth, UK to Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie
(463
miles)
3rd
Stage
Thursday 5th July - Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie
to Gijon, Spain (434
miles)
4th
Stage
Wednesday 11th August – Gijon to Quiberon
(316 miles)
For
latest positions, CLICK
HERE
La
Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro 2004
1st
Stage
Tuesday 27 July – Caen to Portsmouth (160
miles)
2nd
Stage
Wednesday 30 July – Portsmouth, UK to Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie
(463
miles)
3rd
Stage
Thursday 5th July - Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie
to Gijon, Spain (434
miles)
4th
Stage
Wednesday 11th August – Gijon to Quiberon
(316 miles)
For
latest information, please go to http://www.samdavies.com/skandia
Other
information sources online:
http://www.classefigaroBénéteau.com
http://www.lasolitaire.com
http://www.coursedesfalaises.com
http://www.matchracing.fr
http://www.generalisolo.com
