At 1400hrs local time today Sunday, the 36 sailors set off on the third and final stage of the 55th edition of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec racing between Royan, in Charente Maritime and the port of La Turballe, in Loire Atlantique. A breezy, long, technical stage of 710-miles on the cards. And in a 15-17kts breeze under puffy, towering cumulus clous the start got off cleanly.
Here is what some of the key sailors had to say before docking out,
Annaëlle Pattusch Switzerland (NEMO): "There will be wind, big winds on this last stage, I am looking forward to it. We are still going to play it safe. I have to manage myself and not try to do like those in front. I have to do my own race, we are not at all at the same level. The pilot, my autohelm, is doing better, I must not go too hard into the waves, but given the conditions forecast, it will be complicated. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it holds up." Élodie Bonnafous (QUEGUINER La Vie en Rose): "We will really have to play it safe on this stage. Mistakes in strong winds can be very expensive. At the Pole Finisterre we are training precisely to face these strong conditions so that we can have this dexterity and fluidity in the maneuvers. I feel ready and I can't wait to go.”
Paul Morvan (Foricher Les Moulins - Bagatelle): "There shouldn't be any big dramas on this stage like in Spain. It's going to be a stage for tough guys, especially in the Channel, but also a lot of tactics to get back to Brittany with 15-20 knots of wind. After that, you'll have to put your mind to rest, spend several hours at the helm, that's where it's going to be decided. You'll have to hang on, experience will pay off on this stage."
Pep Costa Spain (VSF Sports): "It's already the last stage, I feel good. It's the longest and toughest of the stages, there's going to be a lot at stake. There's going to be almost two days upwind, then you'll have to be good in the Channel, survive the conditions and get back as quickly as possible. I want to sail cleanly and above all have fun with a good trajectory. Finishing with a good dynamic would be great. »
Loïs Berrehar (Skipper Macif 2022): “We’re going to have to get some sleep on this first part of the stage, because once we get to the Occidentale de Sein, we’re going to have to work hard. The wind is going to start to come back, then it’s going to be downwind with complicated sail choices. The front passage is going to be quick with a very fast cross-Channel race in around 24 hours. We have to mix it up and then be on the attack. This is the last stage. We can’t give up and the guys in front could create big gaps. It’s going to be a race of experience. By the time we can catch up on some sleep towards Penmarc’h, we’ll be close to the finish, it’s not going to let up. I’m very happy with my first two stages.”
Alexis Loison (GROUPE REEL): “I’m going to attack this stage at full speed as usual, that’s not changing. There are several phases in this stage, with a rather classic start. Those who start in front should stay there. There will be a few obligatory tacks. There will be a few catch ups along the coast of Loire Atlantique and Brittany with a few interesting little shifts. After that we will change register. As we pass Ushant, we will cross the Channel in conditions that will only get stronger. This morning's files are quite strong. We will have to deal with it, be good sailors, sail with the sail of the weather. As soon as the front has passed, on the way back into the Channel, it will be navigable downwind again, gliding, fun."
Basile Bourgnon (Edenred): "This is the stage of all possibilities. The double or quits stage. It's, I win or I dismast. No, but it's true that in the general classification it becomes complicated. The gaps are significant on a stage where there won't be many transitions. On the other hand, we can both break everything and put a lot of space between us. I think we will have to trust the equipment by pushing for as long as possible. It will be a raid with strong winds and we want to do well. And I have no desire to go to bed to gain meters. We will have some great faces at La Turballe."