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The Solo Guy Cotten fleet continues to make its debut on the Concarneau race course. On Tuesday, the Figaro skippers competed in the second round of the event, a coastal course of 21 nautical miles. A fast-paced regatta that confirms the density of the field and prepares the fleet for the big race on Wednesday.
Tom Goron signs his first victory on the Figaro circuit
At the end of the second race, Tom Goron took his first victory on the Figaro Beneteau circuit. For most of the race, it was a three-man race. Hugo Dhallenne, Paul Morvan and Tom Goron sailed neck and neck for a long time, but were unable to decide between them. The decision was made in the last third of the race. Tom Goron managed to gain a slight advantage on the penultimate leg and extend his lead by a few lengths.
"I'm very happy with today. We had a good fight with Hugo and Paul Morvan, and it was very close for most of the race. On the penultimate tack I managed to stretch out a bit and put a little distance between us, which allowed me to take it easier. But it wasn't easy all the way to the end. Conditions were pleasant with little sea, so it was a really nice day's sailing explains Tom Goron.
He beat Hugo Dhallenne and Paul Loiseau to the finish line.
Paul Loiseau confirms his excellent start to the race
Having already won the first leg the day before, Paul Loiseau continues to build on his success. By finishing third in the coastal course, the Région Bretagne CMB Espoir skipper retains the lead in the provisional overall rankings.
An almost ideal start to the competition for the young sailor.
"It went really well again. I can't believe it. I won the heat yesterday and made the podium today. I'm still in the lead overall before the offshore. I wanted to set off without any pressure, telling myself I'd do my best and we'd see. I guess that's working for me he confides.
But the skipper is already looking ahead to the next stage.
"Now I'm concentrating on the big race. I'll have to watch the weather and change modes. I'll also have to get a good night's sleep to arrive in good shape tomorrow and keep up this great momentum."
Paul Morvan stays in touch with the leaders
Fourth in today's race, Paul Morvan also confirmed his good start to the event. The skipper of Foricher Les Moulins sailed with the leading trio for a long time before losing a few lengths upwind.
"We battled with Tom and Hugo, as we had all winter during our training sessions at the Pôle Finistère Course au Large. I had a little problem with my upwind speed, which cost me a few lengths, but in terms of points it's all going to come down to the offshore. The aim is to stay in the fleet"
Alexis Thomas gets back into the swing of things
Winner of last year's Solo Guy Cotten, Alexis Thomas made a solid comeback in this second race. After an average start that put him around fifteenth position at the first mark, the Wings of the Ocean skipper managed to gradually work his way back into the leading group to finish sixth.
"Conditions were more consistent today, so it was easier to express yourself. I made an average start and found myself around 15th place at the first mark. Then I managed to gradually come back to finish 6th. I'm pretty satisfied, especially as I had good speed"
A major race reduced to 250 nautical miles
The rest of the program promises to be more challenging. The start of the big race will be on Wednesday, but the course has been shortened. Initially scheduled to cover 400 nautical miles, it has been reduced to 250 nautical miles in anticipation of a strong gale expected off Brittany on Thursday night.
Race director Yann Eliès explains this cautious choice.
"With the arrival of a strong gale on Thursday night, with gusts close to 40 knots and very heavy seas, I can't leave the sailors at sea in these conditions. Part of the fleet is ready for this type of weather, but another part is a little less so. It's the first race of the year, and some sailors have limited means at their disposal. In these conditions, there could be a lot of breakage, which would compromise the rest of their season. So we've chosen to remain reasonable explains the race director.
A demanding offshore course around the tip of Brittany
Despite this shortening, the race will retain a demanding profile. The skippers will first head for the Occidentale de Sein buoy. They will then head offshore towards a virtual Guy Cotten waypoint in the Bay of Biscay, before returning to Groix on a long downwind leg. The final leg will take the fleet back to Concarneau.
Conditions are already expected to be sustained from the start. Waves of 3 to 4 meters are expected on the approach to Sein, while the wind could reach around 25 knots on the downwind leg to Groix. Around thirty hours of sailing await the skippers. On this type of course, the gaps can quickly widen and completely redistribute the overall ranking of this 49th Solo Guy Cotten.
