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55th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec Leg 1 Day 3
17 August – 15 September 2024
55th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec Leg 1 Day 3 © Alexis Courcoux
With less than 300 miles remaining to the finish line off Gijón in northwest Spain, Alexis Loison (Groupe REEL) continues to lead Stage 1 of the 55th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec.
His lead has fluctuated between half a mile and one mile, and late this afternoon he was the first to tack southeast as the top solo racers strategize for a dying front, which may prove to be a decisive phase of the leg that began on Sunday from Le Havre. After the withdrawal of German Olympic silver medallist Sanni Beucke (This Race is Female) due to damage to her D2 shroud, 35 solo skippers remain in the race.
Loison was the first to reach Wolf Rock lighthouse at 00:19hrs last night, winning the first Intermediate Sprint of the race and gaining a five-minute time bonus that will be deducted from his elapsed time at the end of the leg.
Ahead of Loison’s first tack, Race Director Yann Chateau explained, “The wind will ease and turn to the right. Choosing your point to tack carefully is therefore important because others will make a long starboard tack to sail down almost to the middle of the Bay of Biscay, with wind conditions continuing to turn right until it turns north in the middle of Biscay. We should see the first spinnakers appearing tomorrow morning after a night close-hauled in an easing wind and a sea that will flatten out slightly.”
For now, the fleet should remain compact for a while yet. According to the latest estimated times of arrival (ETAs), the boats could arrive in Gijón (Spain) this Thursday early afternoon.
Ireland’s Tom Dolan (Smurfit Kappa-Kingspan) was in ninth place as of this afternoon, only 2.6 miles behind Loison, while Spain’s Pep Costa is positioned in 15th. Costa expressed his feelings about the race, mentioning, “The start required a lot of work sailing upwind in windy conditions. I am pleased with my performance, even if I made a slight mistake in the English Channel. I managed to catch up and feel fairly happy with the night since Wolf Rock. We are heading into an area of light winds, so we have quite a lot of work ahead. I prefer to be in proximity to the fleet to avoid unnecessary risks and to check that my trimming is good. Regardless of being close or further away, it is still stressful. I have a rough idea about the upcoming weather, but I anticipate complications with light, variable winds. I’m a bit frustrated with being left out since the start.”
They said:
Martin Le Pape (DEMAIN), in this morning’s call, stated: “We had wind and have been close-hauled sailing. I believe we will be content once we hoist the spinnakers. Long tacks are favourable for us to rest. There are currently no major tactical options available. I didn’t want to stray too far from the fleet. My positioning, just behind the race leader, suits me very well. The outcome will be determined in the Bay of Biscay. The gaps are very small. The passage of this ridge of high pressure will complicate the situation. We need to project ourselves, find it, and figure out how to cross it.”
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Oliver Hayes, a seasoned sailor and marine journalist from Southampton, has a profound love for the sea that has shaped his career. Holding a degree in Marine Journalism from the University of Portsmouth, Oliver is celebrated for his compelling and insightful storytelling. His work vividly captures the excitement of sailing and the rich maritime heritage of the United Kingdom, making him a respected figure in the sailing community. When not writing, Oliver enjoys exploring the British Isles’ diverse coastlines and participating in local regattas, always on the lookout for his next nautical adventure.
