La Solitaire URGO Le Figaro Stage 2 - Cape Finisterre final hurdle, Simon still leads, Roberts fifth
by La Solitaire URGO Le Figaro 4 Sep 2018 20:58 BST
3 September 2018
Corentin Douguet (NF Habitat) during La Solitaire URGO Le Figaro Stage 2 © Alexis Courcoux
The leaders on Stage 2 of La Solitaire URGO Le Figaro were starting to negotiate a breezy, bumpy Cape Finisterre late this afternoon to complete the rapid passage across the Bay of Biscay which could see them finish the 520 nautical miles stage in to Ria de Muros-Noia in Galicia in the early hours of Wednesday morning, likely to be between 0100hrs and 0400hrs CEST/Local (UTC+2hrs).
After being first to gybe at a little before 0300hrs this morning to slant on a more direct, making angle towards the notorious Cape, Sébastien Simon (Bretagne CMB Performance) and Eric Peron (Finisterre Mer Vent) seized the lead on the early morning rankings and by afternoon had built a cushion of more than three nautical miles after their breakaway slightly east of the direct rhumb line course.
After sleigh riding downwind at more than 12 knots in 25-30kts of NNE'ly breeze, Cape FInisterre was forecast to have gusts of the 35-40ktrs awaiting the lead group early this evening. The wind force itself may cause problems, as well as big unruly seas, but more significantly sudden changes in wind direction have been forecast because of the influence of multiple stormy low pressure cells over the north of the Iberian peninsula.
Britain's Alan Roberts (Secat Services) has spent most of his day between third and fifth, losing slightly in distance and speed to those around him in recent hours, but - in line with the strategy explained by most sailors who spoke today - this may be logically accounted for by the need to stock up on sleep and energy to be on high alert for the final assualt on gale force Finisterre and for the subsequent push 20 or so nautical miles in to the finish line in the sheltered estuary which has high ground on both sides of the picturesque Galician valley.
Breakaway duo Simon, who three years ago won Stage 2 from nearby La Coruna to La Cornouaille in France by seven minutes, and Péron, who raced the 2014-15 Volvo Ocean Race on Dongfeng, are on a tight layline for the NW corner of Spain and may have to gybe back to converge with their pursuers. Although they are established leaders there will be many traps between the latitude of La Coruna and the finish line.
Roberts is well placed and has every chance of matching the career best fifth he secured on Stage 1, appearing to be managing himself with the maturity of a young sailor on his fifth La Solitaire. The race is scored on aggregated elapsed time for each leg.
As it stood at 1800hrs CEST he had just two French solo racers who beat him in to Saint Brieuc last Wednesday night in front of him in Seb Simon and Stage 1 winner Anthony Marchand (Groupe Royer-Secours Populaire), who carry an advantage of 1 minute and 48 seconds and 6 minutes and 13 second resepctively. But, more significantly Xavier Macaire (Groupe SNEF) in fourth was four minutes and 26 seconds behind him going in to Saint Brieuc and Pierre Leboucher, third this afternoon, who was 11th on Stage 1 at four minutes and 55 seconds behind Roberts.
Skippers are going to have to remain wide awake and alert to make their way around the Cape sailing at the foot of the cliffs to take the shortest route possible. But they must not get too close as there is the danger of a wind shadow and some will prefer to sail further offshore to pick up more wind, but they will have to sail more miles.
It is probably because of this tricky problem that the separation laterally has been established between the pair formed by Sébastien Simon and Eric Péron clear leaders in the fleet, who look set to be the first to Cape Finisterre, and the winner of the first leg, Anthony Marchand (Groupe Royer-Secours Populaire) to the west. The middle road group includes Xavier Macaire (Groupe SNEF), Pierre Leboucher (Guyot Environnement), Alan Roberts (Seacat Services) and Charlie Dalin (Skipper Macif 2015). Once past Cape Finisterre, the final difficulty will be entering the Ria de Muros-Noia estuary upwind with the breeze blowing at around ten knots, before they cross the finish at the foot of the harbour wall in the swe Galicianet little fishing port of Portosin.
Time deltas among the top ten are likely to be much bigger than at the end of the ultra close Stage 1. At nine miles behind leader Simon this evening that equates to over 40 minutes at current speeds. But a slow finish is widely anticipated.
Switzerland's Justine Mettraux (Teamwork) is in 13th and GBR's Nick Cherry (Redshift) 20th Hugh Brayshaw (KEMAT) 22nd, Ireland's rookie Tom Dolan 25th and fourth in the rookie division. Joan Mulloy (Taste the Atlantic A Seafood Journey) is 33rd.
Standings at 1800hrs CEST:
1. Sébastien Simon (Bretagne CMB Performance) at 100 miles from the finish
2. Eric Péron (Finistère Mer Vent) at 2.4 miles from leader
3. Pierre Leboucher (Guyot Environnement) at 5.1 miles
4. Xavier Macaire (Groupe SNEF) at 5.9 miles
5. Alan Roberts (Seacat Services) at 6 miles
6. Anthony Marchand (Groupe Royer-Secours Populaire) at 6 miles
7. Charlie Dalin (Skipper Macif 2015) at 7.4 miles
8. Thomas Cardin (Team Vendée Formation) at 10.2 miles
9. Thierry Chabagny (Gedimat) at 10.7 miles
10. Martin Le Pape (Skipper Macif 2017) at 11.5 miles
Tom Dolan (Smurfit Kappa): "It is going well right now. I made a big error with the group we went through the Fromveur (Ushant channel) and took a hit and lost about ten miles but really since then it has been going well, the wind is up to 25 to 27ktrs right now, I have just gybed, and I am preparing for the approach to Cape Finisterre which will be a bit hairy, but all is good, I have a big smile on my face. Last night was good I slept as much as I could with the autopilot working so that I am rested for tonight because it will be an all nighter I think. With the strong wind and then no wind in to the finish, it will be a bit tough. Morale was a bit low because we took such a hit at Fromveur. I don't know (if there will be chance to catch up) but at the moment the further we go the more the wind gets up and so the rich are getting richer, I think our only chance will be if it gets very light in the bay at Portosin. But everything is good, I have just taken in a reef because it is a bit lumpy and the boat has been nosediving a bit, but it all good."
Frédéric Duthil (Technique Voiles): "It's pretty full on, the conditions are pretty sporty and so you have to be on high alert, but equally it is cool to be closing down the Spanish coast so fast. We expected this but you need to really after the boat and everything, I kind of miss some marks to go round, I rather liked it when there were marks to go around. And with not too much training it is not easy, it seems like it is either light or windy. I don't push like I used to, I am more cautious than I was. With Roman Treussart we took a not so good option inshore at Perros and hit a real calm spot. And we really paid a price. Anyway I am happy to have been able to catch up and now we need to get past Cape Finisterre without any nasty shocks - there will be more wind there - but after that it will be lighter. But in general when you come down these parts on a NE'ly then the breeze really builds.
Thomas Cardrin (Team Vendée Formation): "It's nice, it's going well. The miles go in quickly. And that means not much time for sleep and so the fatigue is setting in. But the pilot steers well and so I will try to rest before Cape Finisterre. Gybing in these conditions can be hairy so you try to find a lull and go on a wave. You have to commit and go for it. The most delicate bit is putting the pole back on. I did not sleep in the first 24 hours but last night I banked a little bit of sleep because I want to be fresh for the finish."
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