La Solitaire: Eliès recovers after hitting the bricks

La Solitaire media

Posted: 30  Jul. 2010

Elies after rescue in the 2008 Vendee Globe - hit the bricks yesterday - Courtesy Reuters

Around 230 nautical miles from the finish of the first leg of the Solitaire du Figaro, the 45 solo sailors face a third complicated night at sea in very light and fickle breeze.

The past 24 hours have produced several lead changes that continue to evolve on each position report and Yann Eliès made a fast recovery from running aground yesterday to move up to second place behind Armel le Cléac’h.

Sailors are now getting some respite and are gathering strength for the second, tricky half of the leg across the Bay of Biscay and the high-pressure ridge.

There was drama last night at race headquarters when French skipper Yann Eliès (Generali Europe Assistance) alerted officials that he had run aground on Primel Beach in northern Finisterre.

The PSP's Cormoran Naval ship located in the area was immediately warned and set the rib off to meet the skipper. Finally, Eliès managed to get off alone with the help of his engine, spinnaker and the boat's ballast.

Shortly after, the experienced yachtsman called Jacques Caraës, the race director to report everything was fine and that he was continuing route towards Gijón.

Since Eliès had to break the engine seals (while racing all boats have sealed engines to prevent them from being used as a means of propulsion while they are allowed to recharge the boat’s batteries ed. note) to perform the operation, the International Jury will have to meet in Brest during the stopover and make a decision.

The Generali Group Assistance skipper will most likely receive a minimum 30-minute time penalty.

Meanwhile, the fleet of 45 is preoccupied with the ridge of high pressure encroaching across the Bay of Biscay, blocking the second half of the leg from Le Havre to Gijón.

Position reports show constant changes in the rankings over the past 24 hours, evident with the lead changes between Eric Peron, Yann Eliès, Armel Le Cléac’h, François Gabart, and Le Cléac’h once again on Wednesday afternoon over the course of the last 24 hours, midway through the leg.

This marathon first leg is proving to be very demanding on a physical and tactical level, “It is not over until we get to Gijón, we have covered half, but the second part will be very different from the first,” explained Thomas Rouxel (Crédit Mutuel de Bretagne).

“The plan is to position oneself well to gybe into the ridge of high pressure at the right place and at the right time" concludes Rouxel, an opinion shared by the majority of the fleet.”

On the bright side, the light conditions over the course of the day have given sailors time to get rest, dry out and prepare for the tough passage that lies ahead as reported by many of them during the daily “vacations radio”, the usual VHF chat radio sessions held each day.

Erwan Tabarly (Nacarat) said: "There were three or four turns of events, times when there were gaps to build. I did some good things and less good, but I am quite well again, now placed at the entrance to the Gulf of Biscay.

“I lost a little ground on tidal passage at Sein, but nothing serious. This afternoon, I think we will have the opportunity to gets a few naps in. We will be able to dry out our things and should have less seaweed to deal with in our rudders, which is a good thing. We are under spinnaker under the sun ... so it all looks good, bar the weather forecasts.”

Tabarly is not the only one to be worried about the forecast - and for a reason. "It’s what remains of the front," Sylvain Mondon from Météo France says.

This ridge is going to provide the sailors with some breeze in the afternoon, from 8 to 12 knots but tonight the situation is going to worsen over the Bay of Biscay. The fleet is going to reach a northern part of a very extensive ridge, which will translate into very light winds on the course to Spain.

A new weather forecast has forced the organisers to change the ETA – expected time of arrival - for the leg. The last 260 miles to Gijón could be sailed in slow motion, so the solo sailors may now not reach the Asturian coast until Saturday late afternoon.

According to the latest position reports, Armel le Cléac’h (Brit Air) leads, Yann Eliès appears to have recovered unscathed from last night’s incident and is sailing fast and has moved back to second place! Thomas Rouxel Crédit Mutuel de Bretagne is third.

First female skipper is Karine Fauconnier (Eric Bompard Cashmere). She has climbed right up to fifth place after a slow first night.

"My first option in the Seine Bay was not good; I thought I had made a good move - but in fact I came out last - or almost last. However, you have to go for it sometimes, not just always follow the herd,” Fauconnier said.

“Afterwards, I managed to creep up on the upwind section along the Brittany coastline. Offshore maybe I had more pressure, less current, and just did short tacks with each wind shift. I did hour-long tacks with 15-minute naps. All in all, I managed to get quite a bit of sleep, which gave me a clear head to negotiate the Four passage, which was not easy. It has served to reconcile me after that difficult start I had.

“Now, we're all together and we have to see how it all gets played out in the Bay of Biscay. I am clear with my strategy, but is the strategy clear with me? Aeolus will decide.

“I'm back; I'd go to sleep a little, but this is not the time to leave the tiller, because the sea state has worsened and throws the spinnaker around a bit. Earlier it worked well on pilot, but now the holidays are over – but we have the sun, a dry boat and a dry woman!”

Italian skipper Pietro D’Alì on I.Nova 3 has been sailing consistently and is now sailing mid-fleet, less than five miles behind the leader, and close to French/German sailor Isabelle Joschke. They occupy24th and 25th places respectively, while Swiss solo sailor Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujolat) is 31st, Briton Jonny Malbon (Artemis) is 34th.

The young Portoguese sailor, Francisco Lobato, appears to have had some issues today. He may be stuck in a ‘hole’, because his speed is extremely low compared to the rest of the fleet.

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