La Solitaire du Figaro 2009: 40th edition - Start 30.Juli 2009 in Lorient www.lasolitaire.com - Regatta Europa 2009 Fotogalerie Tagesberichte siehe Menu unten Paris, 4th of December 2008 La Solitaire du Figaro 2009: 40th edition In 2009 La Solitaire du Figaro celebrates its 40th anniversary and a remarkable history. Since 1970, 538 sailors have made the start line of this “classic” summer event and there will be more newcomers in 2009. In this landmark year, the race sticks to the traditional format with a 1,706 nautical mile course set between France, Spain and Ireland on the Atlantic Ocean, the Irish Sea and the English Channel. Lorient - start town of the 40th edition. Sailors, supporters and visitors will make the most of the historical setting of the Keroman Submarine Base to celebrate in style the renowned history of 40 years of single-handed racing from the 23rd to the 30th of July. A first sporting leg towards Galicia… On the 30th of July the starting gun will be answered off the coast of Lorient: marking the beginning of a short but difficult leg in which racers will be tested from the very first miles. After having negotiated the point of Pen Men west of the Île de Groix, the Plateau des Birvideaux will have to be left to starboard. The fleet will then have plenty of time to take on the crossing of the Bay of Biscay heading towards La Coruña. “With its 345 miles, the first leg will be all-action, the Bay of Biscay could prove to be very demanding” suggests race director Jacques Caraës. Faithful to the ethos and history of the race, Galicia once again hosts the race. It is the 11th time the town of La Coruña welcomes La Solitaire du Figaro. The Spanish stop-over is appreciated by racers who always make the most of the easygoing way of life and the warm and friendly Spanish welcome. A sprint to the Vendée… The second stage will see the fleet cover the 365-miles to Saint Gilles Croix de Vie on France’s Vendée coast. This is a 290-mile crossing of the Bay of Biscay, from East to West, to reach the Vendee via the Racon landing buoy off the coast of Saint-Nazaire, where they will then leave Île d’Yeu to starboard. Keeping up to the pace will be key on this short sprint. The long awaited return to Ireland on what promises to be a tactical leg…. On the 10th of August, the skippers will set a course for Dingle. The 40th edition of La Solitaire du Figaro could not miss out on Ireland... The competitors will cover 485 miles. Sailing towards Penmarc’h point could prove to be difficult with rocky obstacles such as Belle-Île, Groix and the Glénans archipelago. 300 miles then reindex to be sailed before what it often a tricky finish in the bay of Dingle. The typical Irish port of Dingle will host the stopover of La Solitaire du Figaro for the 4th time. In this exceptional setting the skippers will be able to get supplies and prepared before attacking the 4th and final 511-mile leg to the finish. A long-distance leg for a finish in Northern Normandy… Dieppe, in Northern Normandy will host La Solitaire du Figaro for the first time. There are many specific challenges to negotiate on the final leg: Following a run down the Irish coast, the Fastnet Rock will have to be left to starboard before crossing the Celtic Sea…The skippers will have the choice of how to pass the Scilly Isles; next there is Lizard Point to pass running along the south coast of England to reach Start Point. Once the fleet reaches the Isle of Wight, just the Channel crossing reindexs. Finally Dieppe will see a worthy winner for the historic 40th edition of the race and provide a warm and friendly welcome. “This edition has a very particular flavour to it, it was important for the organisers to offer the single-handers a race course true to the 39 past editions of La Solitaire du Figaro. Although this format reindexs a “classic” , multiple traps on the coast and at sea shall have to be negotiated. Each skipper will be free to experiment on the different stages of the 2009 Solitaire which will require very precise navigation and tactical sailing” explains race director Jacques Caraës. Re-cap on 39 editions… The single-handed race was created in 1970 following an idea by Jean-Michel Barrault and Jean-Louis Guillemard, journalists at the daily newspaper Aurore. The Course de l’Aurore rapidly became an un-missable event in France. In 1980, the Course de l’Aurore became La Solitaire du Figaro and in 1990 the monotype appeared, adding a sporting dimension to the event. Notably to be remembered are the 1973 storm which decimated three quarters of the fleet, Patrick Eliès’ 4 leg victories in 1979, the exceptional participation of Alain Gautier in 1980, then still a minor, Luc Berthillet, reported missing in 1985 and finally found by a Spanish trawler, rookie Laurent Bourgnon’s fine victory in 1988, Philippe Poupon’s 3rd title in 1995, Alain Gautier’s rescue by Nicolas Bérenger in 1996, Jean Le Cam’s 3rd victory in 1999, the 13 seconds separating Armel Le Cléac’h from Alain Gautier in 2003, Michel Desjoyeaux’s 3rd title in 2007... And many other tales of sailors and the sea. THE IMPORTANT 2009 DATES LORIENT Village opens: Thursday 23rd July Suzuki Prologue: Tuesday 28th July Start of the 1st leg: Thursday 30th July Port History 1982: Stop-over, leg victory for Loic Caradec 1989: Stop-over, leg victory for Alain Pointet 1991: Finish town, leg victory for Christophe Cudennec Etappenpreise in Dingle Cliech vor Dingle Figaroskipper Leg 2 in St. Gilles Croix de Vie Flottenführer Beyou vor Coruna Start in Coruna Stegbetrieb in Coruna Generali führt in Leg 1 Figaroflotte startet nach Coruna Foto: Marmara-Bouchon/Le Figaro LA CORUÑA ( 345 miles) Organisers arrive: Friday 31st of July Expected arrival of the boats: Saturday 1st of August Start of the 2nd leg: Tuesday 4th of August Port History 1972: Stop-over, leg victory for Michel Malinovsky 1981: Stop-over, leg victory for Gilles Gahinet 1982: Stop-over, leg victory for Patrice Carpentier 1983: Stop-over, leg victory for Lionel Péan 1984: Stop-over, leg victory for Christophe Cudennec 1986: Stop-over, leg victory for Christophe Auguin 1987: Stop-over, leg victory for Gabriel Guilly 1988: Stop-over, leg victory for Alain Gautier 1989: Stop-over, leg victory for Alain Gautier 1993: Stop-over, leg victory for Jean Le Cam 2007: Stop-over, leg victory for Corentin Douguet SAINT GILLES CROIX DE VIE ( 365 miles) Organisers arrive: Wednesday 5th of August Expected arrival of the boats: Friday 7th of August Start of the 3rd leg: Monday 10th of August Port History 2004: Stop-over, leg victory for Armel Le Cléac'h 2006: Stop-over, leg victory for Nicolas Troussel DINGLE ( 485 miles) Organisers arrive: Tuesday 11th of August Expected arrival of the boats: Thursday 13th of August Start of the 4th leg: Sunday 16th of August Port History 2001: Stop-over – leg cancelled 2003: Stop-over, leg victory for Alain Gautier 2006: Stop-over, leg victory for Gérald Veniard DIEPPE (511 miles) Organisers arrive: Monday 17th of August Expected arrival of the boats: Wednesday 19th of August Closing Regatta: Saturday 22nd of August www.lasolitaire.com 20.08.2009 The Race Replayed - A Classic 40th Edition 19.08.2009 Thrilling Finish in Dieppe 09.08.2009 Eve of third leg : "This is Where it Starts to Get Serious" 06.08.2009 Light at the End of the Tunnel for Tired Skippers 01.08.2009 First leg Victory for Eliès Copyright © 1996-2016 - SEGEL.DE