Ranking 12.08.08
Press Release, 12th August 2008, l’Aber Wrac’h
Nicolas Troussel wins the 39th edition of Solitaire du Figaro
François Gabart, first in the rookie rankings
Nicolas Troussel finished 18th on the last leg of La Solitaire du
Figaro, but the 6 hour lead he had over his closest rival was more
than enough to clinch the overall win of the 39th edition of La
Solitaire last night. Gildas Morvan (Cercle Vert) and Frédéric Duthil
(Distinxion Automobile) take 2nd and 3rd places respectively. François
Gabart (Espoir Région Bretagne) wins the 2008 Beneteau Rookie Ranking
by finishing 17th overall for his first time participation on the race.
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Foto: Marmara/Vialeron - Le Figaro
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Nicolas Troussel owes this win to an exceptional race on the first leg
from La Rochelle to Vigo. The battle to get ahead in the light
conditions and reach the wind first allowed him to continually extend
the lead, a lead in terms of time that his fellow 49 competitors would
never break over the course of the three legs. Recognition for
Troussel’s astounding success story is unanimous among the skippers.
The ability to build such big gaps and to climb places from behind is
astonishing. “Nico sailed really well on the first two legs. On the
first, I was close to him when he managed to get away. I was tired
and he still had the willpower and clear mindedness to try anything,
to go and search and grab the opportunities. This does not come down
to good luck, this comes down to pure talent.” Describes Frédéric
Duthil. I have been sailing like this for some years now” explains
Troussel, “I believe in myself and my strategy and not necessarily
just intuition. I try and see the long-term situation. When it works
out it is a bit like a spiral, and that is were I do well. I am also
confident in my ability which has just grown over the years,”
continues Nicolas.
Gildas Morvan (Cercle Vert) enjoys his best performance so far after
13 participations in La Solitaire and takes the 2nd place in the
overall rankings. The 2nd spot in Aber Wrac’h assures him the place
and “even though I came to win, I still feel I have had a great
Solitaire. He confides, “It all came down to the first leg when
Nicolas (Troussel) pretty much killed the race. He has sailed
brilliantly. I have finished 3rd so many times so finishing 2nd it
great…now I have to come back next year to win it!” concludes a
grinning Gildas.
Frédéric Duthil (Distinxion Automobiles) takes the third place and can
be proud of two excellent years on La Solitaire. In 2007 he won two
legs and came second to Michel Desjoyeaux and this year, the Olympic
trained sailor has not once stepped down from a podium finish. “It is
funny, Nicolas (Troussel) wins the first leg and overall, Gildas
(Morvan) wins the second leg and is second overall and I win the third
leg and am third overall. We have had to work hard but then what is
really self-assuring is that I have been very regular and finished on
the podium on all the legs. I think that I have become more of an all
rounder and more consistent.” Concludes Duthil.
Jeanne Grégoire (Banque Populaire), on her 7th participation finishes
just behind Eric Tabarly (Athema) to take 5th place, her best to
date. She equals the best female ranking when Clare Francis finished
5th overall in 1975. François Gabart. (Espoir Région Bretagne), the 25
year old competing for the first time, wins the overall rookie
rankings and proves worthiness of being selected to train in one of
France’s best established training camps, the Centre d’Entraînement de
Port La Forêt. “I was expecting lots of things but then none of them
where what I actually experienced. You have to do this race to
understand it. I found out lots of things about myself, about what
drives me to want to win, about what I am good at. I tried to keep
going the whole way. The only little fright I had was on the second
leg when I crossed paths with whale and we missed colliding by just a
couple of centimetres. On the third leg I went hell for leather, it
was a real sprint and even broke things on the boat. I thought I was
going to enjoy it and I just loved it!” enthuses Gabart.
“We have had two legs where low pressure systems have meant we could
not sail the planned courses, but then we just have to adapt” explains
the race director, Jacques Caraës, “I am so happy now to see all the
boats safely back and think that everyone is pleased now and when you
see the level of these competitors you understand why this Solitaire
has such a high standard”, continues Jacques. “It is no fluke that
you see these very talented and experienced sailors on top of the
podium. I am also truly surprised by the rookies, the first three are
of extraordinary ability, François Gabart, Adrien Hardy and Isabelle
Joschke, but then they are good sailors who train hard and perform
well all year long.”
This brings a close to the 39th edition of La Solitaire du Figaro, we
will have to wait for the 4th of December to find out where the race
will go to celebrate the 40th year of Europe’s oldest solo offshore
yacht race.
- ENDS -
For further media information, please contact: Sabina Mollart-Rogerson
Email: sabinamollartrogerson@gmail.com or pressesolitaire@lefigaro.fr
Tel: + 34 666 759 530
Photograph Credits: Marmara/Vialeron - Le Figaro
The 2008 La Solitaire du Figaro press pack is available for download
on the website: http://www.lasolitaire.com/accueil_en/
Login: skipper and Password: Figaro
The 2008 edition of La Solitaire du Figaro comprises 3 legs over 1,800
nautical mile course.
AGENDA:
LA ROCHELLE
Village opens: Saturday 19th July
Suzuki Prologue: Wednesday 23rd July
Start 1st leg: Friday 25th July
VIGO (Spain) 465 Miles
Organisers arrive: Saturday 26th July
Expected arrival of the boats: Monday 28th July
Start 2d leg: Thursday 31st July
CHERBOURG-OCTEVILLE 590 Miles
Organisers arrive: Friday 1st August
Village opens: Saturday 2nd August
Expected arrival of the boats: Monday 4th August
Start 3rd leg: Friday 8th August
L'ABER WRAC'H 825 Miles
Organisers arrive: Sunday 10th August
Village opens: Tuesday 12th August
Expected arrival of the boats: Thursday 14th August
Nautical parade: Sunday 17th August
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