On board the “Express” boat
The wind was slow to establish itself on this sunny Sunday day in Kinsale Bay. Postponing the start of the 2nd leg of the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec by 40 minutes. As an appetizer, in a light breeze of 4 to 5 knots, a 6-mile coastal course was proposed. After an English start, at the release buoy, Gaston Morvan (Région Bretagne-CMB Performance) led ahead of Élodie Bonafous (Quéguiner-La Vie en Rose), Romen Richard (Passion Santé) and Maël Garnier (J’M Garnier ).
What followed was going to be complicated. With the presence of an anticyclonic ridge, a random wind was announced. And this, a good part of the following long hours. Before the gun, the competitors had even been warned that when passing the South Arklow mark, the Saint-Georges canal crossed, the course will be definitively established and announced by VHF. They will have to acknowledge receipt. At that point they will know whether to move forward in the Northern Irish Sea or not.
Tom Dolan (Smurfit Kappa-Kingspan), the leader of the provisional general classification, was not too feverish leaving his green homeland and the Castlepark Marina: the weather in Ireland. There, we will spend two days at 20 degrees and bright sunshine. They’re all going to be burned, that’s perfect. I don’t think we’re going to do the long run. We must not arrive late at Roscoff. Tonight, things can happen because some files send us to the coast and others offshore. It wouldn’t surprise me if everyone follows each other because there is a way to get very expensive if the options are divergent. Then, in the Irish Sea the pattern is clear. Sailing close-hauled against the current. Afterwards, for the descent, it remains poetry. We don’t get much sleep. »
Patience will therefore be required, and for the youngest in the race and his 21 spring, Basile Bourgnon (Edenred), this will not be a problem: “Usually I’m not patient, but on the water, it’s different . We know it’s the same for everyone. And you need it to do this job. Fortunately, this falls at the start of the event and the fleet will still be well grouped. Afterwards, there will be plenty of small passages of high pressure, thermals and currents, because we have strong coefficients where the options can be decided. We will have to look up from time to time to see what is happening above our heads. I’m going to make sure not to give others the chance to overtake me. »
The road will therefore be long and vigilance will be required in the direction of Brittany. Verdict on Thursday, no doubt.
