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La Solitaire du Figaro: The Biscay Doldrums
Posted 4 months, 8 days ago
La Solitaire du Figaro: The Biscay Doldrums
http://sail-search.com/news/index.php/a/2008/07/27/La_Solitaire_du_Figaro www.Sail-Search.com: Christian Bos (Région Midi Pyrenées) slides into the lead ahead of Erwan Tabarly (Athema) twenty-four hours into the first leg of La Solitaire du Figaro race. The fleet of 50 boats left La Rochelle on Friday lunchtime in very light breeze, have had virtually no wind over night with just slightly more this morning and making painfully slow progress to the finish in Vigo, 380 miles away. Just 70 miles in twenty four hours and light conditions to come sets back the ETA to late Monday or early Tuesday. Bos holds a 2.8-mile lead over Erwan Tabarly (Athema), positioned slightly south and on the direct route. The 2006 winner, Nicolas Troussel (Financo) together with Gildas Morvan (Cercle Vert) maintain a hold on the leaders: 3.7 and 3.8 miles respectively. Armel Tripon and Christophe Lebas have taken the most extreme southerly option for now and it remains to be seen if this will pay off further down the line. Trailing by 16.5 miles, Philippe Bard (Morillon.fr) brings up the rear of the fleet. There are repeated reports over the VHF today from the skippers and Race Committee boat following the competitors, there is virtually no wind and the temperature is rising across the Bay of Biscay. The fleet is fanned out and a 20 mile gap has built from north to south; a significant gap “which may affect those have headed a long way south” explains Race Director, Jacques Caraës, from the Race Committee boat. “There is just no wind, it is flat as pancake and it is like a lake out here. We have even less wind than we had yesterday and it is now getting very hot so a matter of getting your hats out and sunscreen on. You still have the swell associated with the Bay of Biscay, but it is calm,” echoes Nicolas Raynaud reporting form the racecourse. It is a matter of remaining alert to the slightest change in conditions and continuing to fine tune and trim the sails to make the most of the tiniest bit of pressure which will make the ultimate difference as Christophe Lebas (Lola – in 32nd place and 9.8 miles from the leader) knows only too well; “I was with Armel Tripon (Gedimat) and the little pig has just got away with a nice little puff of wind. He has managed to get two miles on me in an hour. You try and take these things with a grain of salt and have say to yourself it is not over yet.” Nerves of steel are required to get through the next long night to come forecast to be light once more. Full Story »
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