After a delayed start from Pauillac due to the lack of wind, the 43 solo sailors set off at 16h30 for the first 420 mile leg to Gijon (Spain). After a peaceful first night, a completely different atmosphere awaited the Figaro racers. Whit Monday (5th June) saw the conditions deteriorate with a SW'ly wind gradually strengthening. These difficult conditions continued throughout the night with a violent passage of the front, which generated winds of up to 50 knots, which in fact caused a lot of damage to the fleet.
Heavy weather that did not impact Nicolas Lunven who reached the Spanish port this Wednesday 7th June at 00h 01 min 16 s and won the 1 re stage of this 48 e edition of La Solitaire Urgo Le Figaro. The skipper of Generali, 36 years old, took 2 days 07 hours 31 minutes and 16 seconds to complete the course between Bordeaux (Pauillac) and Gijon (Spain), or 420 miles (theoretical) at an average speed of 7.56 knots. This is his first stage victory despite these 9 participations in the great race of the Figaro circuit.
Since the start from Bordeaux, he has been at the head of the fleet all the time, third at the Radio France buoy at Le Verdon and then fourth at the Turkey buoy at the halfway point. It was shortly after passing the Rochebonne plateau, as the wind and seas became stormy, that the winner of the 2009 edition of La Solitaire URGO Le Figaro made a first difference, pushing his westerly tack a little further before tacking and setting a course on starboard tack towards Gijon. Second on Tuesday morning behind Adrien Hardy, he then proved that he was one of the fastest in the fleet by taking control early this afternoon and never letting go.
Adrien Hardy (Agir Recouvrement) takes the 2 Ee place in the provisional ranking, with an arrival on 7 June at 00:14:39. Sébastien Simon (Bretagne CMB Performance) takes 3rd place e place on the podium by crossing the line at 00:29:02.
Damage list for the first stage as of 6 June 2017
21h21: Erwan Tabarly (Armor Lux) means his abandonment after breaking a port spreader bar, he heads for Les Sables-d'Olonne.
21h23: The Santorini, the trailing boat at the tail end of the fleet, indicates that Sophie Faguet (Porsche Corben) is encountering a lot of sail problems.
23h34: Yannig Livory (Lorientreprendre) calls the race management to announce that a huge wave has knocked his solent off course, the halyard is gone and the mainsail has opened in two. After considering going to the Ile d'Yeu, he finally decides to head for Gijon.
23h49: Jérémie Beyou (Charal) indicates that he no longer has a halyard or solent, he heads for Gijon under mainsail alone.
00h14 : Damien Guillou (Domino's Pizza) calls to say that his mainsail is torn, he's on his way to Les Sables-d'Olonne.
1h14: Anthony Marchand (Ovimpex Secours Populaire) has also lost his mainsail, torn, he is also heading towards Les Sables-d'Olonne.
1h34: Erwan Tabarly (Armor Lux) is in Les Sables alongside the quay, welcomed by Estelle Graveleau and all the port team who have mobilised.
4h25: Eric Delamare (Normandy Region) announces that he has lost his large spinnaker.
5h46: Marc Pouydebat (Auto Malin) explains that his mainsail has torn, he is heading for La Rochelle.
7h27: Damien Cloarec (Saferail) encounters a problem with his aerial and AIS antenna which has exploded, he remains in the race, on his way to Gijon.
7h31: Anthony Marchand (Ovimpex Secours Populaire) is in Les Sables-d'Olonne, he will join the fleet in Gijon or Concarneau.
9:10 am: Xavier Macaire (SNEF Group) indicates that the head of his mainsail is lifted, while Gildas Mahé (Action Against Hunger) has lost his crown buoy and his turnaround light.
9h12: Damien Guillou (Domino's Pizza) is in Les Sables-d'Olonne, he will join the fleet in Gijon or Concarneau.
