Soloseilasen LaSolitaire har startet
Den årlige og mest utfordrende soloseilasen i Europa er i gang. Seilasen seiles som entype med Figaro2 båter. Den 385nm lange 2. etappen startet i går, og den profilerte og meritterte Yann Elies leder.
From Scuttlebutt Europe:
Leaving Sunny Spain For Brest
The 45 sailors competing on the 41st edition of La Solitaire du Figaro got off today at 14:00 from the Spanish town of Gijon, under sunny skies with 8/9 knots of breeze from the North. Internationally renowned skipper Yann Elies on Generali Europe Assistance takes the lead.
On perfect time, under clear skies and with a good northerly breeze of around 7/8 knots the 45 boats strong fleet crossed the starting line, just two miles outside the harbour of Gijon, on the Atlantic Spanish coast. The Race Committee promptly hoisted the individual recall flag as five skippers were over the line: Sebastien Josse, Jeanne Gregoire, Erwan Tabarly, Jeremie Beyou and the Italian Pietro D`Alì.
13 minutes later, Yann Elies (Generali Europ Assistance) was first around the Seamobile mark, with a good 15 lengths led on the second placed, Alexis Loison (All Mer Ineo Gdf Suez). They were followed by Laurent Gouezigoux (Trier c`est preserver) in third and Nicolas Jossier (Impulsion Entreprendre en Pays Granvillais) in fourth. Fifth was Kito de Pavant (Groupe Bel).
In a spectacular display of coloured spinnakers the fleet then headed to the second gate, the Radio France mark.
Top ten at the Radio France mark
1. Yann Elies (Generali Europ Asssistance)
2. Alexis Loison (All Mer Ineo Gdf Suez)
3. Laurent Gouezigoux (Trier c`est preserver)
4. Kito de Pavant (Groupe Bel)
5. Nicolas Jossier (Impulsion Entreprendre en Pays Granvillais)
6. Eric Drouglazet (Luisina)
7. Laurent Pellecuer (arnolfini.fr)
8. Yoann Richomme (DLBC)
9. Frederic Rivet (Vendee 1)
10. Fabien Delahaye (Port de Caen Ouistreham)
The fleet now face their first night at sea, according to Sylvain Mondon from Meteo-France overnight the 45 skippers will have to deal with two incoming fronts to cross the ridge in the Bay of Biscay. Sailing up to the first passage, the SN1 mark which is 235 from Gijon, the fleet will sail in 8/12 knots airs which will progressively shifting tot o W/NW. Tomorrow night the north-westerly breeze will be well established and pretty gusty, topping 20/25 knots and with a fairly strong swell.
To be noted that the length of Leg 2 has been recalculated by the Race Direction, the route to Brest is not 418 miles as previously announced but 385 miles.