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Following Article from La Press Solitaire © La Solitaire. 12/08/2010 (no copyright infringement intended.)
[" Wednesday 11th August at 20 hours, 8 minutes and 45 seconds, Adrien Hardy crossed the finish line first of the third stage of La Solitaire du Figaro. It took to the young Agir Recouvrement skipper on 2 days, 6 hours, 8 minutes and 45 seconds to cover the 349 mile from Brest to Kinsale at an average speed of 6.45 knots. The 26 year-old sailor reached the finish line ahead of Yann Eliès, whom he fought nail an tooth over the final 45 miles to beat at the finish. Generali-Europ Assistance’s skipper crossed a mere 1 minute and 17 seconds behind Hardy, while Jean-Pierre Nicol on Bernard Controls closed in third. A fierce battle for the first place in the newcomers’ special category: only five seconds separate Frenchman Anthony Marchand from Portuguese Francisco Lobato!
What a breathtaking finale! Ireland did its best to welcome the Solitaire heroes: a charming sunset light on the Irish green coastline, blue skies and a gentle breeze. A well-organised party to celebrate Adrien Hardy’s first win... The young sailor, 26 years, who is participating for the third time to the Solitaire du Figaro proved consistent and determined from the very start, always remaining in the top five positions. Hardy took the lead towards the end of the long Celtic Sea crossing, just before the Fastnet Roc as a result of taking a northern option. Under the constant threat of Yann Eliès, Hardy kept the situation under control over the final 45 miles. Spinnaker up, close to the cliffs he managed to keep a small, yet decisive, lead over Generali-Europ Assistance’s expert skipper. The Irish podium in Kinsale celebrates another young solo sailor, Jean-Pierre Nicol (Bernard Controls), 31 years, who reaches his best ever performance in the race after four participations.
5 tiny seconds! That's the amazing gap between the first two "rookies", the newcomers to the Solitaire du Figaro, who compete for the special Bénéteau ranking. French sailor Anthony Marchand, 25 yearold and from Finistère, on Espoir Région Bretagne snatched first place from Portugal’s Francisco Lobato, 25 years old from Lisbon on ROFF/TEMPO-TEAM. The two promising solo sailors finished in 8th and 9th position respectively leaving behind them several older and much more experienced skippers. Amazingly, it took just one hour and a half for the 44 Figaro II boats to cross the line in quick succession after three days at sea.
From the Minitransat to the Figaro, what next? Winner Adrien Hardy is also known as Mac Gyver, a nickname a French journalist gave him when, during the 2007 Mini Transat he dismasted, managed to repair his rig and go back racing. He is 26 years old, he was not even born when Jean-Paul Mouren (M@rseillentreprises) who is at his 24 participation, sailed into Kinsale for the first time! He must be even happier because he joins in on the 41 year history the Figaro has with the sailing harbour of Kinsale. Hardy joins sailig legends in his achievement: Alain Gautier (four victories!), Jean Le Cam, Yves Parlier, Loïck Peyron, Philippe Poupon… among others.
Apart from Francisco Lobato, other non French skippers had “mixed” performances: Isabelle Joschke (Synergie) finished 21st, Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat) 25th while more disappointed were Italian Pietro D’Alì, who suffered also from some technical issues and closed in 36th and Briton Jonny Malbon, 41st."]
Article copyright La Press Solitaire © La Solitaire 2010.
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