Solitaire du Figaro – Eric Bompard Cachemire - Leg 2 Finish
by Artemis Offshore Academy 13 Jun 2015 07:46 BST
13 June 2015
A very special Solitaire du Figaro – Henry Bomby takes 4th place in Leg 2
At 2145 on Friday 12th June, Sébastien Simon (Bretagne – Crédit Mutuel Espoir) was first to cross the finish line of Leg 2 of the Solitaire du Figaro – Eric Bompard Cachemire. The shortened leg (330 miles) from La Coruña, Spain to La Cornouaille, France, took him 2 days 8 hours and 45 mins, and leaves him 11th overall on the leaderboard. Second was Xavier Macaire (Skipper Herault), who moves up to second overall, and third place was Yann Elies (Groupe Queguiner – Leucémie Espoir), who now takes the overall race lead – after the two legs – by 4 minutes and 23 seconds.
British sailor Henry Bomby (Rockfish Red) was 4th – a personal best as well as the highest ranking ever achieved by a British sailor in any Solitaire leg since 1975. Henry finished in a time of 2 days 9 hours exactly, now sitting in 13th place overall after the two legs.
Robin Elsey (Artemis 43) lost his place atop of the Rookie podium, finishing 4th in the rookie division on Leg 2. Despite this, he is only 2 minutes and 13 seconds behind his main competition – Benoit Mariette (Entrepose), so there's all to play for in the remaining legs.
Jack Bouttell (GAC Concise) is currently the top British sailor on the overall leaderboard after another strong performance, finishing 14th. After two legs, he sits 2 hours and 56 minutes behind overall race leader Yann Elies.
First Brit into La Cornouaille, Henry Bomby said on the docks: "Arriving here after the finish was amazing. I've never been welcomed into a place like that – with everyone clapping. There are so many people, and everyone's interested. It's fantastic."
There are still two legs to sail of the 2015 Solitaire du Figaro – Eric Bompard Cachemire, the next stage taking the British skippers home to the UK – Torbay.
Full British results after Leg 1, Leg 2 and overall:
Solitaire du Figaro Results after Leg 2
1. Yann Elies/Groupe Queguiner – Leucémie Espoir/5 days, 18 hours, 20', 15"
2. Xavier Macaire/Skipper Herault/5 days, 18 hours, 24', 38"
3. Alexis Loison/Groupe Fiva/5 days, 18 hours, 34', 14"
12. Jack Bouttell/GAC Concise/5 days, 21 hours, 16', 19"
13. Henry Bomby/Rockfish Red/ 5 days, 21 hours, 39', 44"
16. Robin Elsey/Artemis 43/5 days, 22 hours, 16', 11" *
17. Sam Matson/Chatham Marine/5 days, 22 hours, 17', 12"
18. Alan Roberts/Magma Structures/ 5 days, 22 hours, 51', 43"
31. Nick Cherry/Redshift/6 days, 1 hour, 29', 54"
32. Andrew Baker/Artemis 23/6 days, 1 hour, 34', 26" *
37. Rob Bunce/Artemis 37/ 6 days, 2 hours, 44', 27" *
* Rookie
Solitaire du Figaro Rookie positions after Leg 2
1. Benoit Mariette/Entrepose/5 days, 22 hours, 13', 58"
2. Robin Elsey/Artemis 43/5 days, 22 hours, 16', 11"
3. Benjamin Dutreux/Team Vendee/5 days, 23 hours, 4', 38"
4. Aymeric Arthauld/Reel – PGO Automobiles/5 days, 23 hours, 14', 53"
5. Arthur Prat/Guadeloupe Grand Large 2/6 days, 00 hours, 40', 17"
6. Martin Le Pape/Ovimpex – Secours Populaire/6 days, 1 hour, 10', 43"
7. Andrew Baker/Artemis 23/6 days, 1 hour, 34', 26"
8. Nicolas Thomas/Guadeloupe Grande Large 1/6 days, 1 hour, 35', 47"
9. Sophie Faguet/Region Basse Normandie/6 days, 1 hour, 35', 55"
10. Rob Bunce/Artemis 37/6 days, 2 hours, 44', 27"
11. Tolga Ekrem Pamir/1 Jour 1 Homme 1 Arbre/6 days, 4 hours, 17', 57"
12. Marc Pouydebat/France AVC/6 days, 7 hours, 41', 11"
Solitaire du Figaro Leg 2 Results
1. Sébastien Simon/Bretagne – Crédit Mutuel Espoir/2 days, 8 hours, 45', 21"
2. Xavier Macaire/Skipper Herault/2 days, 8 hours, 51', 57"
3. Yann Elies/Groupe Queguiner – Leucémie Espoir/2 days, 8 hours, 53', 36"
4. Henry Bomby/Rockfish Red/2 days, 9 hours, 0', 0"
10. Alan Roberts/Magma Structures/2 days, 9 hours, 16', 28"
14. Jack Bouttell/GAC Concise/2 days, 9 hours, 22', 45"
17. Robin Elsey/Artemis 43/2 days, 9 hours, 38', 42"
18. Andrew Baker/Artemis 23/2 days, 9 hours, 40', 27"
20. Sam Matson/Chatham Marine/2 days, 9 hours, 41', 54"
36. Nick Cherry/Redshift/2 days, 10 hours, 47', 24"
38. Rob Bunce/Artemis 37/2 days, 6', 2"
Solitaire du Figaro – Leg 1 Results
1. Thierry Chabagny/Gedimat/3 days, 9hours, 11', 36"
2. Yann Elies/Groupe Queguiner – Leucemie/3 days, 9 hours, 26', 39"
3. Alexis Loison/Groupe Fiva/3 days, 9 hours, 28', 13"
11. Jack Bouttell/GAC Concise/3 days, 11 hours, 53', 34"
15. Sam Matson/Chatham/3 days, 12 hours, 35', 18"
16. Robin Elsey/Artemis 43/3 days, 12 hours, 37', 29"
18. Henry Bomby/Rockfish Red/3 days, 12 hours, 39', 44"
24. Alan Roberts/Magma Structures/3 days,13 hours 35', 15"
28. Nick Cherry/Redshift/3 days, 14 hours, 42', 30"
33. Rob Bunce/Artemis 37/3 days, 15hours, 38', 25"
36. Andrew Baker/Artemis 23 /3 days 15 hours, 53', 59"
Quotes:
Henry Bomby, (Rockfish Red)
"I just kept taking places the whole time! I didn't really have confidence in the beginning – there were about 4 guys in front of me and my aim was just to stick with them for as long as possible. Then I started to take one, then another, and in the end I just thought 'What the hell, I'll just go for it!"
Alan Roberts (Magma Structures)
"I've actually done so little of the offshore stuff, every time I do a race or a leg I'm constantly learning. It's such a great experience for me as a sailor."
Jack Bouttell (GAC Concise)
"On the second day we had a magical sunset. There were dolphins everywhere around the boat, and I was going quickly across the water. It was such a gorgeous evening, I sort of forgot about sailing and racing altogether!"
Robin Elsey (Artemis 43)
"I think my motto is 'Just keep plodding along' but you've got to do it. You just need to go out there and enjoy yourself, and see where you come out the other side."
Andrew Baker (Artemis 43)
"This time I just sailed my own race – the race I wanted to sail. I just made my own decisions and did what I thought was right, forgetting about the rest of the fleet. It all seemed to come together so that's good."
Sam Matson (Chatham Marine)
"My biggest challenge was definitely trying to move towards the front pack. I had to save time wherever I could and was constantly looking for the next opportunity. That was quite tough."
Nick Cherry (Redshift)
"This Solitaire's definitely been interesting! That last leg was like getting an extra leg for free! There's more work to do but I feel like we're kind of getting more value for money!"
Rob Bunce (Artemis 37)
"Today we were sailing in perfect conditions with a spinnaker up – it was a nice treat for my birthday!"
For more updates on the progress of the British skippers, please visit the Artemis Offshore Academy website, Facebook and Twitter.