Yann Eliès's Figaro II has dismasted, dashing his skipper's hopes of victory
More fear than harm for skipper Yann Eliès who broke the mast of his Figaro II a little after 13 hours. Finally everything depends on the point of view from which we place ourselves because for the favorite of this 45ème edition, the hope to win the race is slipping awayâeuros¦
While the start of the first leg, from Deauville to Plymouth, had gone rather badly â?" with an early start, Eliès was called back and left Deauville last â?" he managed to catch his rivals off guard and regain the lead. As he turned, in the lead, off the Wolf Rock lighthouse, in the West of England, he lost the race. "I was afraid of drifting onto the lighthouse, fortunately, the current made me pass 50 m from the lighthouse. I dropped everything so as not to damage the boat" explained Yann Eliès during a radio session. "I had a little scare" he adds. Fortunately, he is safe. In very rough seas and 20 knot winds, he was forced to free the rigging to save the rest of his boat.
The field is open for its main competitors
Eliès had to reach the town of Falmouth, England, about 20 nautical miles away. He is not giving up on the race, even if this third consecutive victory is now only a dream. "I'm going to motor back to Falmouth. I should be there in six hours. Then I'll try to find a mast. There is one in Lorient, and Adrien Hardy (Agir Recouvrement) has offered me one too. The goal is to repair and leave to try to win stages .
His competitors, Charlie Dalin (Normandy Elite Team) and Jérémie Béyou (Maître Coq), who were following him closely, will be able to win without the presence of this formidable rival. At the end of the afternoon it was Charlie Dalin who was at the head of the fleet, followed by Jérémie, heading for Roscoff.
