La Solitaire du Figaro-Eric Bompard

Deauville-Plymouth, 08.06.2014 -Übersicht

Press release of 06/06/2014
Mustering the forces in Deauville

There are two soloists who start La Solitaire du Figaro-Eric Bompard cachemire on Sunday with their sights on the treble, Jérémie Beyou (Maitre Coq) and Yann Eliès (Groupe Queguiner-Leucemie Espoir). There are the hard bitten, proven sailors desperate to make this their year - Gildas Morvan (Cercle Vert), Erwan Tabarly (Armor Lux Comptoir de la Mer) or Thierry Chabagny (Gedimat). And there are the young, hungry and talented looking to cement their place in the top ranks, Fabien Delahaye (Skipper Macif 2012), Paul Meilhat (SMA) or Charlie Dalin (Normandy Elite Team). And from the other side of Le Manche, there are a whole posse of keen, well trained and highly motivated English sailors looking to make their mark. Indeed this time, the English make up a quarter of the fleet for La Solitaire du Figaro-Eric Bompard cachemire which starts on Sunday off Deauville.

Triple chance
The veteran of the fleet, at 61, is Jean-Paul Mouren (NFRS Group) who is ready for his 28th participation. There are others who have raced it more times than they can probably remember. Gildas Morvan, (Cercle Vert) is on his 19th participation. Eliès has already 14 Solitaires under his belt, Béyou 13 and they go head-to-head for the treble. If they won the overall they would join Michel Desjoyeaux (1992, 1998 and 2007), Jean Le Cam (1994, 1996 and 1999) and Philippe Poupon (1995, 1985 and 1982). Meticulously prepared, with an intimate knowledge of what it takes to win outright these two are the established favourites for overall victory.

Béyou finished fifth last year and Eliès has won more legs in the last two editions, three from seven, but 2011 was Béyou's year when he won three of four. But the impetus is with Yann who would become the first skipper to win La Solitaire three times in row. With no expectations and no pressure on him is Alain Gautier (Generali) who is back after 11 years of absence from the race at the age of 51. He has nine stage wins to his credit and won in 1989, the first year of the Beneteau Figaro 2.

Podium experience
Then there are the pretenders, those who have done enough – who have podiumed before - and have the wherewithal to win. Thierry Chabagny (Gedimat) has raced 13 times and finished second in 2006, Erwan Tabarly on Armor Lux -. Comptoir de la Mer (11 participations and 3rd in 2011), ranks similarly. And then there is the redoubtable Gildas Morvan (Cercle Vert)! The big man of the Figaro circuit has done everything but win La Solitaire du Figaro. With 18 participations, five stage wins and a second place overall in 2008, Gildas will take every chance that comes his way. With such a level it will not be easy for any one skipper to dominate. Adrien Hardy (Agir Recouvrement), Corentin Douguet (Un Maillot pour la vie) or Xavier Macaire (Skipper Hérault) are all skippers who can win.

Young guns
A group of young skippers have maximised their time on the water, racing and training all that they can and these young guns could well upset the established names with their hard driving, no compromises style. Paul Meilhat (SMA) is the best example and starts on the heels of his victory in the Transat AG2R La Mondiale. Both skippers MACIF, Fabien Delahaye and Yoanne Richomme, Charlie Dalin (Normandy Elite Team), Damien Guillou (La Solidarite Mutualiste), Corentin Horeau (Bretagne - Crédit Mutuel Espoir) and Anthony Marchand (Ovimpex - Secours Populaire) are all well trained and have a good record this season.

And then there are those who do it for the challenge, for the fun of it Vincent Biarnes (Guyot Environment), Frédérique Rivet (DFDS Seaways), Alexis Loison (Fiva Group), Nicolas Jossier (In Extenso Experts Comptables), Isabelle Joschke (Generali - Horizon Mixite) are not pitching for a podium place but give it everything nonetheless.

Overseas…over here
They will be nine non French skippers (three rookies) crossing the start line of the 45th edition of La Solitaire du Figaro-Eric Bompard cachemire. There are eight English and one Irish (David Kenefick on Full Irish – Le Comptoir Irlandais), so forming a quarter of the fleet! The majority are members or graduates of the Artemis Offshore Academy. Top hopes rest with ‘regulars' Sam Goodchild (Team Plymouth) 11th last year and Nick Cherry (Redshift) who will be making his third participation (17th last year).

Green
They are between 23 and 47 years all taking on La Solitaire for the first time. Seven in number this will be their hardest solo test yet. They are Gwen Gbick (Made in Midi) Gwénolé Gahinet (Safran-Guy Cotten), Sébastien Simon (Bretagne - Crédit Mutuel Hope), Clement Salzes (Darwin les Marins de la Lune), Richard Mason (Artemis 77), Sam Matson (Artemis 21) and Alan Roberts (Artemis 23). They have done the dress rehearsals, now it is for real.

They said:
Corentin Douguet (Un Maillot pour la Vie): "In the pre-season races, I saw that good feelings have returned slowly, and even though I'm not at the top, I am able to get there. Among those who are tipped there is naturally Beyou and Yann Elies who have great support, but anything can happen on La Solitaire! There is also the very consistent Adrien Hardy, and many others including some young ones who are a growing threat.

Paul Meilhat (SMA): "There are too many people in good form: some worked in France through this winter, others who had the chance to make the Transat AG2R, others had problems, others did all the pre-season races. And so there are at least twenty who can get on the podium. “

Jérémie Beyou (Maitre Coq) : "The difference depends on who gets ahead. If it is Yann (Elies) with a quarter of an hour, that is going to be hard but if it's a guy I do not know who gains an hour, it is less serious ... Everyone is not able to take the lead on three legs. There are not that many favourites that is evident in the pre-season with Yann Elies, Gildas Morvan and myself.”

Sébastien Simon (Bretagne Crédit Mutuel-Hope): "I have never even crossed the Channel far less alone. This will be a first time for many things. I'm looking forward to it.”

Nick Cherry (Redshift): “I have no expectations, I struggle to put a number on my aim. Last year I was 17th but I have done two and a half days training and half a race so far, and spent a lot of time working on my boat. I felt great in the Prologue race but that can be a mixed blessing. I will go and race hard, make sure I don't do anything stupid and make sure I am spent by the end of it.”