2016 Solitaire Bompard Le Figaro-The’re Off…

 

P1060790 - CopyEntry List-Skipper/Boat name

1. BAKER Andrew / #SEACHANGE
2. BIARNES Vincent / GUYOTENVIRONNEMENT
3. CHABAGNY Thierry / GEDIMAT
4. CHERRY Nick / REDSHIFT
5. CLOAREC Damien / SAFERAIL
6. DALIN Charlie / SKIPPERMACIF 2015
7. DOUGUET Corentin / SOFINTHER – UN MAILLOTPOUR LA VIE
8. DUTREUX Benjamin / TEAM VENDÉE
9. ELSEY Robin / ARTEMIS 43
10. FAGUET Sophie / RÉGION NORMANDIE
11. GODARTPHILIPPE Arnaud / FAUNENVIRONNEMENT
12. GUILLOU Damien / LA SOLIDARITEMUTUALISTE
13. HOCHART Benoit / PRESQU’ÎLE DE RHUYSMIRAMAR
14. LE PAPE Martin / BELLOCQPAYSAGES
15. LE VAILLANT Arthur / UN BATEAUPOURDEMAIN
16. LOISON Alexis / GROUPEFIVA
17. LUNVEN Nicolas / GENERALI
18. MACAIRE Xavier / CHEMINS D’OCEANS
19. MARCHAND Anthony / OVIMPEXSECOURSPOPULAIRE
20. MATSON Sam / CHATHAM
21. MORVAN Gildas / CERCLEVERT
22. PAMIR Tolga / RENOVAL / 1 JOUR 1 HOMME 1 ARBRE
23. PRAT Arthur / LESPERLES DE ST BARTH
24. PRATT Christopher / SOURIRE A LA VIE
25. PRUVOT Claire / PORT DE CAENOUISTREHAM
26. RICHOMME Yoann / SKIPPERMACIF 2014
27. ROBERTS Alan / ALANROBERTSRACING
28. SIMON Sébastien / BRETAGNECMBPERFORMANCE
29. TABARLY Erwan / ARMORLUX

Rookies

30. BRAYSHAW Hugh / ARTEMIS 23
31. DECROOCQ Aymeric / BRETAGNECMBESPOIR
32. HARRIS Will / ARTEMIS 77
33. LAGUETTE Cécile / ILONA
34. METTRAUX Justine / TEAMWORK
35. MOUSSION Théo / #THÉOENFIGARO
36. NOESMOEN Marc / TEAM VENDÉE FORMATION
37. QUIROGA Pierre / SKIPPERESPOIRCEM
38. RAVOT Yves / HORS LA RUE
39. ROOK Mary / ARTEMIS 37

After leaving France with very little wind to help them on their way the boats headed to the coast off the Southern shores of the Isle of Wight before heading to Wolf Rock.

With the lack of wind at times and some testing conditions stage 1 of the 2016 Solitaire Bompard Le Figaro from Deauville to Cowes looked set to be one of the longest and most taxing of recent memory. Two boats in the 39 strong fleet retired leaving 37 to take on the tough conditions. After some hours Tabarly, 42, nephew of the legendary French ocean racer Eric, sailing Armor Lux had a tiny lead of just two-tenths of a nautical mile over Richomme on Skipper Macif 2014. At one time the first boats were due in Cowes on Thursday morning.

However a decision was taken to shorten the course and instead of the boats sailing, once again, around part of the Isle of Wight to The Forts off Bembridge,the Needles became the finish point.

Over the last few miles Erwan Tabarly and Yoann Richomme were dualing right to the finish line. At one time the pair were gliding along under spinnaker at just five knots.

However, it was Erwan Tabarly, solo skipper of Armor Lux, who was the first to cross the finish line of the gruelling Stage 1 of the Solitaire Bompard Le Figaro when he crossed the finish line at the Needles Fairway buoy to the west of the Isle of Wight at 21:27hrs and 57 secs BSTon the evening on the 22nd June.(Wed).

Tabarly’s elapsed time was three days, nine hours, 25 minutes and 54 seconds for the passage from Deauville, France on a course that started on Sunday and took the fleet out to Wolf Rock, by Land’s End, and back.

When he crossed the finish line, second-placed Yoann Richomme (Skipper MACIF 2014) was within sight at less than half-a-mile behind. The duo made a key breakway from the other fleet leaders on Wednesday morning off Start Point when they escaped into a stronger breeze.

Charlie Dalin (Skipper MACIF 2015) crossed the line in third place.

To welcome the sailors to Cowes an Event village has appeared in Cowes Yacht Haven complete with Victorian Fun Fair and stands from organisations including Chatham and UKSA where there are activities for children.

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