Le Cléac’h wins 41st Solitaire du Figaro

Image and Following Article excerpt from La Press Solitaire © La Solitaire. 18/08/2010 
La Solitaire website (no copyright infringement intended.)

[" On Wednesday 18th August at 21.15.24, Armel Le Cléac’h crossed the finish line of Leg 4 placed in the Bay of Cherbourg. It took to Brit Air’s 54 hours, 30 minutes and 24 seconds to cover the 435 miles of the last lap at an average speed of 7.98 knots. This summer le Cleac’h proved to be the man of all records. At 33 years of age he wins this 41st edition after having heavily dominated the race (with 3 leg wins) and enters the very selected club of double winners, thanks to his first victory back in 2003. Le Cleac’h was followed shortly on the line by Corentin Douguet on E.Leclerc Mobile and by François Gabart who thus secured second place overall."]

Article excerpt from La Press Solitaire © La Solitaire. 18/08/2010  (no copyright infringement intended.)

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Check out the salopettes: Always great to see an outstanding sailor wearing MUSTO ;)

La Solitaire du Figaro: The fleet arrives at Kinsale

Video from YouTube Channel ScanVoile [Crédit : Nefertiti Prod Tv] no copyright infringement intended

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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La Solitaire Leg 3: Brest to Kinsale

Video from YouTube AdonnanteTv | 09 August 2010

La Solitaire 2010 -The start of Leg 3. The fleet leaves Brest for Kinsale

Following article and photo from La Press Solitaire © La Solitaire. (No copyright infringement intended)

"The 44 skippers taking part to Leg 3 of the Solitaire du Figaro left Brest today for a 349 miles long route bound for Kinsale. The start was hampered by the bulk of the fleet clustering the pin end of the line, causing individual recalls and several protest flags to be raised. Leaving the goulet de Brest prove to be as hard as expected with collisions, penalty turns and a boat actually hitting the rocks. Portuguese skipper, Francisco Lobato, rounded the Radio France mark in 5th position ahead of his fellow first time participants."

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Live map of current race positions 

The current leader is Thomas Rouxel who leads the formidable Armel Le Cléac’h who is just behind in 2nd place. Armel Le Cléac’h is only 0.50nm behind the race leader. Can he take the lead and win this leg? The boats at the front of the fleet are all very close, so anything could happen yet, as the Irish Sea awaits the skippers on their way to Kinsale. What a race!

 

Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) wins 2nd Leg of La Solitaire

Video Source: oceanfanatics | 06 August 2010

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Following Article from La Press Solitaire © La Solitaire. 06/08/2010  (no copyright infringement intended.)

["On Friday August 6th at 2 hours 44 minutes and 40 seconds Armel Le Cléac’h crossed the finish line in front of the Moulin Blanc harbour, in Brest. It took Brit Air’s skipper 2 days, 44 minutes and 40 seconds to sail the 385 mile long leg from Gijón to Brest, at an average speed of 6.34 knots.

Le Cleac’h, also know as “The Jackal” in this editon of La Solitaire doubled the number of wins: from two to four. François Gabart (Skipper Macif 2010) and Jérémie Beyou (BPI) jump on the second and third step of the podium respectively."]

So it's two for two for Armel Le Cléac’h - Who will break this winning streak? Can he maintain this awesome performance for the third leg? Check out Leg 3: Brest to Kinsale (349 Miles) which starts on Monday the 9th at La Solitaire

La Solitaire arrives at Gijón

AdonnanteTv video from YouTube


Following article from La Presse Solitaire. 31/07/2010  lasolitaire.com 

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["At precisely 01:42:32 Armel Le Cléac’h on Brit Air crossed the finish line two miles outside the port of Gijon, on the Spanish Coast after 83 hours, 14 minutes and 32 seconds. He covered the 515 miles from Le Havre to Gijón at an average speed of 6.9 knots. Brit Air’s skipper has participated nine times to the Solitaire and scored three leg wins.
Le Cléac’h has sailed the perfect race right from the very start and never been less than top five, moving into the lead just after passing the Brittany Point on Thursday at dawn, only temporarily conceding the first place to François Gabart (now lying in fourth) and to the rookie Yoann Richomme. His victory was built in the Bay of Biscay when he skilfully opted for a more easterly route escaping the high-pressure ridge area.

“I have come back to the Figaro to try and get revenge on last year,” declared Armel Le Cléac’h before the start in Le Havre. He is nicknamed the “jackal” for his both his guile and relentless perseverance right up to the end. Proven once again in Gijón.

Winner in 2003, where he beat Alain Gautier by the memorable 13 seconds, Armel Le Cléac’h is 33 years old and for some time now has been a point of reference on the Figaro circuit. Over the past two years he has enjoyed success in both the Open 60 and Figaro campaigns: 2nd in the 2008-2009 Vendée Globe, 2008 Imoca World Champin and then winner last year of the Transat AG2R-La Mondiale."]

Day 2 of La Solitaire

Video from Day 2 of La Solitaire



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La Solitaire du Figaro

Video from oceanfanatics   

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La Solitaire du Figaro   began yesterday from Le Havre in Northern Normandy. The 45 sailors began the first leg, 515 miles to Gijón, in Spain. La Solitaire, as the name suggests is the premier solo sailing event of the summer. Many well known names of French sailing, including Gilles Gahinet, Philippe Poupon, Yves Parlier, Jean Le Cam, Michel Desjoyeaux, Frank Cammas, Kito De Pavant, Jeremie Beyou,  Pascal Bidegorry and Nicholas Troussel having won this race in previous years. This year, as in previous races, there are rookies and professionals competing against each other in this true test of single handed sailing.

The race began yesterday on the first of a four stage race over the course of the next four weeks.The video animation of the course, above, demonstrates the rather complicated route of 1717 miles around the French, Spanish and Irish coastline.

 

 Video from AdonnanteTv  
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Following article from La Presse Solitaire. 28/07/2010  lasolitaire.com

["The 45 Figaro sailors set off from Le Havre in Northern Normandy yesterday on their first leg, 515 miles to the Gijón, in Asturias on the Spanish Cantabrian coastline. Eric Peron (Skipper Macif 2009) grabbed Karine Fauconnier’s (Eric Bompard Cachemir) early lead shortly after the last position poll and has continued over the past twenty four hours to maintain a narrow margin over his immediate pursuers, Erwan Tabarly (Nacarat), Adrien Hardy (Agir Recouvrement), Nicolas Lunven (Generali) Armel le Cléac’h (Brit Air). Sailors who opted for a more inshore course were rewarded with a lead this morning, however as the fleet rounded the Cherbourg headland filing down past and between Gurensey and Sark, the bulk regrouped. The coming twenty-four hours promises to be just as complex as the sailors attempt to get some rest and keep their keel and rudders clear of the seaweed before embarking on the passage at Four and the maritime traffic at Ushant on the turn south into the Bay of Biscay."] 

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La Solitaire Du Figaro 2010