2018 La Solitaire URGO Le Figaro - Prologue Race
by La Solitaire URGO Le Figaro 22 Aug 2018 19:15 BST
22 August 2018
2018 La Solitaire URGO Le Figaro Prologue Race © Alexis Courcoux
Raced in near to perfect conditions on the Bay of Le Havre, the URGO prologue to the 2018 La Solitaire URGO Le Figaro was won by Martin Le Pape (Skipper MACIF 2017) ahead of British skipper Alan Roberts (Seacat Services) with compatriot Hugh Brayshaw (Kemat), last year's top Amateur, finishing an excellent fourth on the traditional short, exhibition warm up prior to the start of the annual French solo offshore racing classic.
The race starts on Sunday with a 570 nautical miles leg from Le Havre to Saint-Brieuc.
With the wind blowing at some 10kts from the NW the URGO prologue was contested along the big beach of Le Havre out to the Heve point and allowed the 36 solo racers who will compete in this edition a gentle entry into race mode before Sunday's start. All were eager to validate their settings, try new sails and ensure everything is tip-top prior to the four stage race which runs through until September 14th in Saint Gilles-Croix de Vie.
After a first general recall, the start was sounded at 1240hrs. Alan Roberts (Seacat Services) on starboard tack took the early lead, followed by Erwan Tabarly (Armor-Lux), the British skipper leading at the first buoy in front of Switzerland's Justine Mettraux (TeamWork) and, in third, Martin Le Pape (Skipper Macif 2017). ??These three control the fleet really, and it is only by pressing a little further on the last short tack to the line that Le Pape manages to get clear of Roberts. After 1h25m of racing Le Pape wins by just 27 seconds ahead of British multiple dinghy racing champion Roberts and 34seconds ahead of Sebastien Simon. Hugh Brayshaw (Kamat) is close behind in fourth. ??Speaking in Le Havre's marina, Martin Le Pape was delighted by this first success: "It was decided by not much at all, just as is usual in the, a small tack offshore a little more than the others upwind. It is this kind of detail that La Solitaire will be decided, so it was a great test. It is always good for the confidence to win the prologue, "rejoiced the winner of the day.??But like his 35 rivals the solo racer of Skipper Macif 2017 knows that the main goal is to the be ready for the start of the first leg between Le Havre and the Bay of Saint-Brieuc which takes place on Sunday at 1300hrs.
"Now the goal for me is especially to rest well and try to do something else, we must be careful not to get your head into racing too early. The first leg will be long, four days, it will be long, the stress will start to increase as the deadline approaches. We learn all about these race starts but each is different and you learn how to manage these moments. So much so that I think that a good part of the race is played on land ".
Quotes:
?Martin Le Pape (Skipper Macif 2017), winner of the URGO prologue: "In terms of racing, we can't make any hasty conclusions from this prologue, but it does show us that the boat is ready. I didn't have any problems and am sailing quickly. I checked out my sails, so that helps me relax a little before the start on Sunday. We can now focus on other things, such as the weather, which is good."
Alan Roberts (Seacat Services), second: "I'm not here to play around. This sort of result is always good and gives you a boost. I have made sure now that I haven't forgotten how to sail a Figaro. I like these moderate winds, the local effects and enjoy these conditions. I think my new sails are great. This was my final speed-test before the main races, so that makes me feel confident. I felt good, sailed intelligently, understood the boat, but that doesn't really tell us what it is going to be like after Sunday."
Sébastien Simon (Bretagne CMB Performance), third: "I didn't get off to a good start, but then at one point, I found myself out in front. I would have liked to win the prologue, but finishing third means I can forget the superstitions about winning. I think it was really important to show my opponents that I'm a force to be reckoned with and I wanted to win. I wanted to confirm my position as leader. That's now the case, so is a boost to my confidence."
Calliste Antoine (ImmoNew), 13th and first rookie: "I'm pleased! There are two ways of looking at the prologues: some people don't care about the result, while others are superstitious and don't want to cross the line. There are others who are there to see how they are doing, which is my case. It's important, as it enables you to settle in, and see how you are doing against the rest of the fleet. I got off to a good start alongside Xavier Macaire with a lot of other good sailors around me. I was fast upwind and managed to go where I wanted. If it's like that in the race, it will be fantastic!"
Prologue URGO Results: (top ten)
1. Martin Le Pape (Skipper Macif 2017)
2. Alan Roberts (Seascape Services)
3. Sébastien Simon (Bretagne Crédit Mutuel Performance)
4. Hugh Brayshaw (Kamat)
5. Thierry Chabagny (Gedimat)
6. Charlie Dalin (Skipper Macif 2015)
7. Benjamin Dutreux (Sateco-Team Vendée Formation)
8. Erwan Tabarly (Armor-Lux)
9. Gildas Mahé (Breizh Cola)
10. Ronan Treussart (Les Perles de Saint-Barth)
More information at www.lasolitaire-urgo.com/en