6:16 PM Fri 29 Jul 2011 GMT
|
|
'Conrad Humphreys (DMS), Nigel King (E-Line Orthodontics, Sam Goodchild (Artemis) and Phil Sharp (The Spirit of Independence) - La Solitaire du Figaro 2011'
&copy Courcoux Marmara
|
La Solitaire du Figaro 2011 has sailors snapping up last minute opportunities to warm up just ahead of the 42nd edition of the classic race. A total of 47 solo sailors took part in the Eric Bompard Cashmere Prologue race in Perros Guirec this evening.
Four Britons and one Portuguese sailor will line up against each other and the strong French competition when the first stage starts on Sunday (31 July) at 11:00 for the month-long Figaro circuit.
The seven-mile long prologue race in the bay of Perros Guirec enjoyed hazy, sunny skies and a gentle six to 10 knots of breeze from the north-east, giving the sailors a chance to check the boat, iron out any issues, and tweak settings before the final rest day on Saturday. It also provides the throngs of sailing enthusiasts and holiday makers in the area with a perfect evening spectacle. The course was shortened after a false start and general recall, and won by first time participant Alexis Littoz-Baritel (Savoie Mont-Blanc). Conrad Humphreys finished first of the British in a creditable eighth place.
Four British sailors have entered the 2011 La Solitaire du Figaro, three of them for the first time. They are the winner of the Artemis Offshore Academy Figaro training programme, Sam Goodchild from Southampton, who at just 21, is also the youngest to race in this edition.
Phil Sharp (The Spirit of Independence) from Jersey, who won the Route du Rhum in 2006 in the Class40, joins with Plymouth-based Conrad Humphreys (DMS), a seasoned sailor who raced in the 2004-2005 Vend?e Globe race. Nigel King (E-Line Orthodontics) from Lymington returns for his third participation.
Another non-French competitor is the talented Portuguese sailor, Francisco Lobato (ROFF), from Lisbon. He is back for the second consecutive year after an ambitious and intensive training programme at the Port Finisterre in Port la Foret with the Figaro specialists.
Early forecasts from Meteo Consult show light conditions for the start on Sunday and the first stage of the four part month-long Solitaire du Figaro.
We catch up with the British entries before the start in Perros-Guirec in Northern Brittany:
Conrad Humpreys (DMS):
What do you expect for your first Solitaire du Figaro?: To learn a lot! It is a very competitive fleet and it is my first solo race in six years since the Vend?e Globe. So I am here to learn as much as possible and to get the spirit of the race back in my blood for an attempt at the Vendee in a few years time.
What do you think of the format of the racing?: It is very different, the fleet is very very good and then the rhythm is very different to a transatlantic or a Vend?e. I think that it is very good preparation for these kind of race.
What are your strong and weak points for this kind of racing : My strong points I think are my tactics and my meteo and weather routing is good. My weak poins may be the close boat sailing. It has been a while since I have done this kind of boat on boat sailing and this race we will be very close to each other and the differences are very small.
What are your sporting objectives?: My primary goal is to be as competitive as possible, but it is difficult to say in terms of position. It would be nice to be in the top half of the fleet and to sail a tactically good race.
Nigel King (E-Line Orthodontics):
What is the difference between your first time participation and now?: I am more relaxed, although it would not appear so at times! I understand the race more and because now I have had two races, so once I get sailing I should be more relaxed. 2007 was a very difficult year... very windy race and at a time I had a small budget and not too much support together with a lack of ability to speak French. This year I return with a little more money and the support of a sponsor and Artemis. I still have to work on my French, but it is very hard when you do not all that much time in France.
You do not feel alone this year then?: One of the good things about this race is that you never feel alone. In the UK you think that you are going to be alone, but when you arrive, you get lots of support and the French are really fantastic from the beginning and always made me feel welcome.
What do you fear the most on this race? : Not living up to my own expectations.
Which are?: It is very difficult...I would say the final standings are important and for this race I really would like to be in the top 10, but then the level is just so high.
Sam Goodchild (Artemis):
What do you expect for your first Solitaire du Figaro?: I expect to learn, and try and have fun, it's my first time. Sailing for me is my passion, something I enjoy and I do not want to just go out there be stressed about doing well or doing badly and who is behind or in front. I am competitive, so I do not want to do badly and will try and get the best result, but at the same time, do not want to come back having had a bad month.
So it is going to be interesting. I do not know where I stand in the fleet, top half, second half, so going out on the first leg I will get an idea on what to work from for the second and the third.
What do you fear the most?: Probably the sleeping part, either doing too much or not enough. It is hard to get it right, so I will need to get practiced on that getting the timing right.
What would be your weak and strong points?: From the training in the Grande Motte (CEM), I realised that my manoeuvres were ok, but then you do that when you are not tired. I am happy that the B?n?teau boat is simple to manage and then I will need to work on seeing how I can make decisions when I am tired.
Do you have any goals?: The biggest goal is to have fun, to enjoy it and to learn. I think there is a lot I can learn, I do not know if I will enjoy it but I will try and I will probably enjoy it more if I am doing well and then as a result, I do not want to put a number on it, but would say I would be happy to be in the top half.
Phil Sharp (The Spirit of Independence):
What do you expect from your first Solitaire du Figaro?: I want to win the first time participation or rookie rankings, but it is going to be tiring and there is lot of pressure with the other sailors really pushing from the start. I think that it is a matter of endurance and knowing how to manage the time.
So you will have to know how to manage your energy?: I think I have learnt how to do this, I have the speed and training at the CEM you learn to work on consistency and now I think have the right speed but learn how to manage and be consistent. Learn how to compromise in the best way.
What do you fear the most on this race? : Not much! Well, truthfully, bad weather and then the rocks where you sail close and take risks. This comes with experience.
What would be your strong and weak points for the race? : I think I will keep pushing to the end, which could be a strong and weak point I suppose. I will need to manage this well to handle sleep etc.
La Solitaire du Figaro website
by Sabina Mollart-Rogerson
|
Maria Island, TAS
Kitesurfing - Kites
Windsurfing - Boards
Foiling - Wind Wing Foilboards