Solitaire du Figaro – Eric Bompard Cachemire - Leg 4 Start
by Artemis Offshore Academy 22 Jun 2015 11:22 BST
21 June 2015
Thank you Torbay, we're off to Dieppe
Leg 4 of La Solitaire du Figaro began at 1600 on Sunday 21st June
At 1600 on Sunday 21st June, the Solitaire du Figaro – Eric Bompard Cachemire raced off the start line in Torbay for the shortened Leg 4 (470 nautical miles) to Dieppe, France. The conditions were perfect for a race start, with both bright sunshine and 15kts of wind – a real luxury after the previous starting conditions we've seen during this year's Solitaire! This will have come as a great relief to Academy Rookie, Robin Elsey (Artemis 43) who declared he was "living in hope" that the conditions weren't anything like the shifty winds of the Pro-Am!
Out on the water, the Artemis Offshore Academy skippers favoured the starboard side of the course, with local boy Sam Matson (Chatham) sailing the furthest inshore. Clearly he was putting his knowledge of the area to good use as he rounded the first mark in sixth place, just behind Leg 3 top Brit, Alan Roberts (Magma Structures). Before the race, Sam spoke of his aims for Leg 4. "I need to try to maintain my top 15 position – I'm currently in 14th," he explained. "I'm going to be pushing it as hard as I can and just racing the race as I normally do. I'm not going to do be doing anything special or random, I'm just going to push as hard as possible."
Sam continued to demonstrate excellent sailing as he exited the bay. Reaching the Radio France buoy in 10th place, the British skipper positioned himself well for the rest of the race. It was Redshift skipper Nick Cherry however, who really climbed the ranks and shone on the water. In Leg 3, Nick ran into a rock off Ile de Batz, requiring him to abandon the race to make repairs. Redshift was out of the water in Dartmouth, for much of the stopover in Torbay, but now the Figaro seems to be in better condition than ever – and Nick is out to take Leg 4 by storm! Prior to the race, Nick was asked what he hoped for in Leg 4. "I've got no specific goals," he replied, "but I'd feel a lot better if I got a decent result on this one, so I'm just going to give it all I've got." It certainly seems like he's giving it everything – Nick reached the Radio France buoy in fourth place, quite a way to start!
The rest of the leg will be tough for the skippers. The course – shortened due to anticipated light winds – takes the fleet around Land's End to a mark just north of St. Ives, then back south to Wolf Rock, past the Isle of Wight to Owers, and across the English Channel to Dieppe. With 20 knots of wind forecast for the first 24 hours the race starts well for the skippers. However, the course includes many tidal gates and takes the skippers through a section of light wind in the English Channel towards the end of the race – at a time when all the skippers will want to do is sleep, they'll have to be out on deck, willing the boat to move towards the finish line in Dieppe.
The light winds and tricky tides make an ETA difficult to pinpoint, but some time during Thursday 25th seems likely. It's sure to be an eventful race with likely splits in the fleet, followed by complete race restarts. It'll be a real grand finale.
You can track the eight British skippers as they race to the finish in Dieppe here.
For further updates on the race, please visit the Artemis Offshore Academy website, and follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
Quotes:
Sam Matson (Chatham)
I need to try to maintain my top 15 position – I'm currently in 14th. I'm going to be pushing it as hard as I can and just racing the race as I normally do. I'm not going to do be doing anything special or random, I'm just going to push as hard as possible. It's the last leg – you'll come into Dieppe completely burnt out but you'll feel happy about what you've achieved over the past month – that's my main aim.
Alan Roberts (Magma Structures)
Coming to the end of an event's fun because you get the result, and you can see all the work you've put in to get that result. But it does pass really quickly and I always wish I were out on the water again when I've finished a leg. I wake up the next day and I want to get straight back out there! Not being out there and not racing all of a sudden is going to be a big shock to the system. I really enjoy getting out there and racing.
Nick Cherry (Redshift)
For me it's like a restart. The rest of my race has been terrible so it's really nice to come to Torquay and see all my friends. But now I just want to get on with it – go out and sail well – I've got no specific goals but I'd feel a lot better if I got a decent result on this one, so I'm just going to give it all I've got.
Henry Bomby (Rockfish Red)
If you asked me this question this time last year, I'd have said I just can't wait to finish and that I want it all to be over. This time, I genuinely don't want the race to end! I've really enjoyed it and it's been a great experience. I've learnt a lot and had a much better time out on the water... I'm not really sure what I'm going to do when the race is over!
Jack Bouttell (GAC Concise)
It's all going to be hard. There's not one thing that's going to be the hardest! Eveyone's really tired – it's the last leg. I think it'll be quite interesting but it's going to be tough. Light wind, shutdowns, tide – it's going to be frustrating, I think.
Robin Elsey (Artemis 43)
I think it was a good decision to shorten the leg – the original course would have taken us 6 days to complete. There wouldn't have been much wind and would just be a bit laborious really! They've made the right choice.
Andrew Baker (Artemis 23)
I think you're going to have to stick to your guns, choosing to go inshore or offshore for the tides. It's a shame you can't physically say 'right, I need to be at that tidal gate by 9' – it doesn't work that way. You get there when you get there. You just have to make calls as you go and keep an eye on what the tide's doing.
Rob Bunce (Artemis 37)
I think the first part will be okay, but the bit I'm most looking forward to is sailing around all the South Coast of England, around Portland and onwards. It's where I grew up sailing and there's still a slim chance we could sail inside of the Isle of Wight – that would definitely make a few of the sailors' days!
It's a wrap! Thank you Torbay
Today (Sunday 21st June), the Solitaire du Figaro – Eric Bompard fleet departed Torbay in spectacular style. Docking out from Torquay Harbour at 1400, the 39 skippers made their way out to the start line waving goodbye and thank you to the local crowds lining Haldon Pier. Out in the Bay, the fleet was blessed champagne conditions – sunshine and a good breeze filling their sails. At the start gun fired by Alain Sibiril Honorary French Consul from Plymouth at 1600, it was a bittersweet start for local boy Henry Bomby (Dartmouth) – over the line before the start gun and having to re-cross the line. Utilising his local knowledge of the Bay and pushing to the brown cliffs and rocks closer than anyone else, Henry was soon back in the mix by the time the skippers dropped their spinnakers at Berry Head – the cliff top lined with the silhouettes of supporters and well wishers. British skipper Alan Roberts, 9th into Torbay on Wednesday 17th June, led the charge from the off, steaming over the starting line down to the first mark at Corbyn Head – challenged by Leg 3 winner and overall leader Yann Elies. Southwest sailors Sam Matson (Exmouth) and Rookie Robin Elsey (Truro) also had a solid start, both skippers pushing into the top ten around the first mark. But in the end it was French skipper Vincent Biarnes who took charge, leading the fleet around the first set of marks in Tor Bay and offshore around Berry Head. The turn out for the start of Leg 4 was the perfect end to a great week in Torbay for the Solitaire du Figaro fleet, chased around the bay by a flotilla of supporters on RIBS, speedboats and yachts – as well as hundreds of people still eagerly watching and listening to the live commentary from Palm 105.5 on the Harbour Wall. Sailing on a shortened 400nm course from Torbay to Dieppe via Lands End, the Solitaire du Figaro is expected to finish in France on Thursday 25th June. You can track local sailors Henry, Sam Matson and Robin Elsey and the rest of the fleet to the finish line here.
Thank you to Torbay for hosting the Solitaire du Figaro – Eric Bompard fleet in Torbay and to all event partners and suppliers for their support. Here are some of the week's highlights.
Wednesday 17th June
The Solitaire du Figaro fleet raced into Torbay before the Race Village on Beacon Quay had even opened! While tents were being erected and PA systems being tested, Leg 3 leaders Yann Elies and Chalie Dalin battled through the crystal clear waters of Tor Bay – speeding toward the finish line just 30 seconds and 0.1nm apart after nearly 500 miles. The photo finish for 41 year old Yann, racing his 16th Solitaire, and 30 year old Charlie, racing just his fourth, was very exciting for just after 0900 in the morning, giving the people of Torbay a taste of what was to come ahead of the official opening ceremony.
As the fleet began to trickle into Torquay Harbour, redecorating the skyline with lines of vertical fluttering race flags, Torbay's Elected Mayor Gordon Oliver and CEO of Race Organiser Pen Duick Pierre Bojic together cut the ribbon and welcomed the public to the Race Village.
Wednesday evening marked the start of a week of live music and entertainment. Local band 'Harbour' kicked off the programme with a lively performance on day one, with performances from Mafia 4, the Torbay Brass Band, the Torquay WI, Max Hutton, Karl Morgan, Robbie VS Ollie and Ruby Washington over the five-day stopover.
Thursday 18th June
Ladies Day! In line with the Royal Ascot Gold Cup, Palm 105.5 hosted Ladies Day in the village – inviting local ladies to don their best headgear and get down to the Race Village. Alongside the day, the Torbay Hospital of Friends ran a raffle for a range of great prizes – from theatre tickets, to Rockfish cooking books, to x2 VIP spots on a VIP spectator boat and a bottle of Pol Roger Champagne. A few brave ladies turned out in their finest millinery, but none as brave as Chatham sponsored and local skipper Sam Matson's family – crafting some creative sun hats out of Chatham shoeboxes! The ladies enjoyed a bottle of Pol Roger Champagne for their efforts.
Thursday also marked the start of the Solitaire du Figaro UK education programme, with 180 local school children swarming the Race Village. Starting their visit in the Royal Torbay Yacht Club, the children learned all about the race and what happens aboard a solo yacht from the British skippers themselves. They even got to try freeze dried race food, their reaction? "It looks like puke", "my dog wouldn't eat that" and "my Mum's cakes are far worse..." The kids then took a special tour of the British Figaros, talked through the boat by members of the Artemis Offshore Academy. In return for their school trip to the Race Village, the children were asked to perform songs and dance routines in the Race Village – drawing in crowds of cooing public! The UK Solitaire du Figaro education programme was one of the biggest successes of the event and will hopefully inspire the children of Torbay to try sailing. One of the most exciting parts of the tour for the kids was discovering that the Figaros don't have a toilet...
Friday 19th June
On day three of the Solitaire du Figaro – Eric Bompard Cachemire in Torbay, 33 professional skippers and guests took to the water for the Pro-Am race. The Pro-Am race came as an opportunity to show the people of Torbay just how exciting and intense solo sailing really is. For the spectators on the wall, it was a chance to see the Figaros in action without them disappearing over the horizon. For the lucky few selected to race with the skippers, it was a chance to sail one of these nimble keelboats and try solo sailing first hand. Starting from Torquay, the competing boats were plagued with light and patchy winds all the way to the first mark at Berry Head, resulting in a dramatic pile up around the buoy. From there they caught a lively knots breeze, seeing the fleet blast back into Torquay in the new breeze. Using his local knowledge to his advantage, Rockfish Red skipper Henry Bomby climbed through the ranks chasing the top spot. In the end, Henry and his crew took a worthy third of 33 Figaros – followed by a dramatic photo finish that left spectators gasping for British skippers Jack Bouttell and Alan Roberts. In true Figaro racing style, the professional skippers and their amateur crew saw every type of condition, with light and patchy sailing down wind, to hard and physical racing upwind.
The Pro-Am didn't count towards the overall race results. However, there was pride at stake, and some great prizes too – so the professional skippers were working their crews hard, most sitting out on the rails and letting their passengers do the work! In the end it was 2015 Rookie and Frenchman Benjamin Dutreux who took line honours, winning a custom made Elliot Brown Watch, crafted to his own specification. As an incentive to take part in the race, the 16th boat in the middle of the fleet won £850 of high end Danish outdoor furniture courtesy of Cane Line – going to Solitaire du Figaro giant Gildas Morvan racing his 20th Solitaire onboard Cercle Vert, with Artemis Offshore Academy race coach Marcus Hutchinson. The last boat over the line was awarded a case of Pol Roger Champagne, a fizzy treat too tempting for some of the skippers...dawdling and stalling all the way up the course, in the end the case was split between the final two Figaros – including British Figarist and Rookie Andrew Baker.
Saturday 20th June
On Saturday 20th June, a total of 643 Torbay locals and visitors broke the world record for the World's Largest Cream Tea party in the Solitaire du Figaro – Eric Bompard Cachemire Race Village. With the current world record standing at 536, organisers of the Torbay event sent out a call to arms over social media, with over 1000 people invited to attend on Saturday 20th October at 1500. On the day, the crowds poured into Beacon Quay in droves to collect their English delicacies – West Country Original Blend Tea from Sam Burton and 'Miles Coffee and Tea', coupled with beautifully baked scones, cream and jam from Tania Mahon and Michelle Hampson at 'Torre Abbey Tea Rooms'.
Locals, tourists, family, friends, children and even dogs queued the length of Torquay harbour wall to collect their cream tea, making a £2 donation going to the Torbay Youth Sailing Trust. With over 600 people attending, organisers of the cream tea world record attempt anticpate over £1000 raised for the local charity – an organisation set up in conjunction with the Royal Torbay Yacht Club to introduce children to sailing. Set up in 2007, the charity aimed to get one million children out on the water by 2012. The Torbay Youth Sailing Trust was chosen as the Torbay Solitaire du Figaro stopover's official charity due to it's affinity with the event and with the Artemis Offshore Academy – the UK's only training centre for British solo skippers, with eight currently competing in the Solitaire. The Torbay Youth Sailing Trust's work is giving the next generation of British solo sailors an opportunity to get out on the water, an opportunity that they otherwise may have never had.
Riding high on the shared success of the world record, the crowds gathered at the stage for the Leg 3 prize giving. Stage winner and current overall race leader Yann Elies took to the mic to thank Torbay for their hospitality, and their fish and chips. He also joked that he would love to win the Mayor's colourful tie, before commending Event Organisers and the progress of the Artemis Offshore Academy and their British sailors on the Classe Figaro Bénéteau Circuit. Unable to drink his winners champagne ahead of the race, instead Yann popped the cork on his Jereboam and hosed the supporting crowds – an exciting finish to a usually formal affair. The Race Village then celebrated the race in Torbay with a grand fireworks display set off from Corbyn head.
Sunday 21st June
Race day. In a humbling service wishing the Solitaire du Figaro competitors god speed and safe passage, friends, family and public supporters joined Reverend Canon John Herve for a multi-faith blessing in the Race Village. In a relaxed service supported by Torquay's WI choir, the scale of the challenge ahead was made real by the faces of Mum's of the British skippers – singing and praying for their sons sailing over 2000 miles solo aged between just 20 and 30 years old.
Keeping the crowds entertained until the time came for the boats to dock out, the Shaolin Martial Arts display team wowed the public with their precision and control. At 1400, the Solitaire du Figaro skippers began to make their way down to their boats, saying goodbye to loved ones before being cheered out of the habour for the last time by the people of Torbay.
A big thank you to all who visiting the Race Village over the five day event and to all in Torbay for embracing the race and making the skippers welcome.
For the highlights from the Torbay stopover, follow on Facebook and Twitter.