Light winds send off from Gijon in La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec Leg 2

Gentle breeze in Gijon, Spain for the start of 55th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec Leg 2 © Alexis Courcoux

This second stage of three takes the 36 boat fleet to the Isla Sisarga Grande, a natural waypoint, to the west of La Coruña, where the Intermediate Sprint time bonuses are awarded, five minutes for first, three for second and one for this.

The initial challenge for all is to negotiate the effects of the rugged, coastline with its high cliffs well and the natural wind acceleration zones and lees, and the unsettled waters. Positioning for an incoming front which should arrive in the small hours of Monday morning could well shape the hierarchy for at least the first half of the leg across the Bay of Biscay.

"A lot will be at stake, especially in the first night for the one who crosses the front first at 4am on Monday morning. We know that we are going to start in very soft conditions along the Spanish coast which is never easy. I think we are going to have to be quite aggressive right away and not give too scope to the others because whoever gets away will build a real advantage." explained Basile Bourgnon (Edenred), the current leader in the provisional general classification before docking out.

"This feels like the start of a Stage 1 because the deltas are so small, I do not intend to count the points yet, we will see about that for the last one. The objective is to have a clean stage and be proud of myself, like after the first. I think that the rest should follow and it will go well" Bourgnon added.

At 1800hrs this Sunday evening Jules Delpech (ORCOM) was leading with Ireland's Tom Dolan in fourth at just a quarter of a mile behind. Spain's Pep Costa (VSF Sports) is tenth at 0.8 miles behind.

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