Solitaire du Figaro - Nail biting suspense and fast downwind sailing

6:41 PM Tue 17 Aug 2010 GMT

'Thomas Rouxel (Credit Mutuel de Bretagne) fast downwind under spinnaker' Courcoux-Marmara/Le Figaro

Solitaire du Figaro 2010 saw a fast and demanding night got the 44 skippers racing in the fourth and decisive leg. They averaged speeds of more than 11 knots in high winds of 20-25 knots, gusting at more than 30. Gildas Morvan first at the Fastnet but the overall leader Armel 'the Jackal' Le Cleac's is back in control. Fatigue has set in yet nobody can let their guard down for the final miles on the approach to Cherbourg. Excellent performance form Portuguese skipper Francisco Lobato and Italian Pietro D'Al? still in the leading group. The game remains wide open ...

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by Carla Anselmi