The arrivals are coming one after the other this Thursday in Gijón (Spain), where the outcome of the first stage of the 55th edition of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec was played out, won by Lois Berrehar (Skipper Macif 2022) before the jury, ahead of Basile Bourgnon (Skipper Edenred) and Jules Ducelier (Skipper Région Normandie). A look back at this first stage with the race participants as they arrived at the pontoon.
Loïs BERREHAR (Skipper Macif 2022), 1st position:
"I had to go and get this victory! I've been taking part in La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec for six years and this is my first stage victory! It came down to nothing. We sailed well. Alexis Loison was impressive in the first part. Basile and I were good with the manoeuvres and strategies. The night passage of the Cotentin tip was tough with Basile and Tom Dolan, with lots of rocks and manoeuvres. My goal was to win a stage, now I can enjoy myself on my Figaro!"
Basile BOURGNON (Edenred), 2nd position:
" I don't think I turned in a bad performance. It was the first time I felt I had total control of a stage, even if the end played tricks on us! I'm really happy with the cleanliness of this sailing. That's what I was looking for this year. I didn't know where Alexis Loison was, that's the advantage and the constraint of this race. I was really focused on my speed and the competitors around me. It was when I saw Alexis' spinnaker at the end that I knew we were in front with Loïs. Such a grouped finish was complicated, we were quite in front with Élodie and Loïs and there was a general regrouping in Gijón, but we were able to pull through and it wasn't undeserved! "
Jules DUCELIER (Normandy Region), 3rd position:
A little before arriving, I was checking the time to see when we were going to arrive because I was a little alone between the leading trio and the pack behind, and then, when it stopped and then started again, it was a little surprising, but it ends well. I'm a little tired but very happy! I'm not going to give up on the other stages, especially for the place of 1st rookie. Afterwards, there are people behind... But each stage after the other. The more it goes on, the harder it will be for me and for everyone, but especially for us rookies who don't know the race and its sequences of states. That's where it will come into play at the end. The first stage is done, now I'm going to prepare for the rest! "
Arno BISTON (Tizh Mor), 4th position:
“It was a stage full of twists and turns, you could say that. I was quite happy with the start of the stage. I was pretty much in the game and I felt quite comfortable, a little less so in the central part of the stage and then there was this incredible finish where we know that all the cards are reshuffled for the second stage. I think it's an ideal finish, at least for me, it's certain that we'll stay on a positive note to build on what's to come.”
Thomas De DINECHIN (Almond), 5th position:
“First Solitaire du Figaro Paprec for me and first stage of my life. I came to this Solitaire with two objectives: to do a good stage and to get a rookie or general podium. So the good stage, it is made on the result. I finished sixth, I am happy, I missed a little shot at the very beginning of the stage in Barfleur, but behind, I am in the match all the time so I do not stick to the first except on the finish at the end. In any case, I find that I manage to be in the match, I have the speed, so it is very encouraging for the rest. On the finish, I am not far from making the hold-up 0.3 miles from the finish line. I have the big names who are behind there is Basile, Lois who is starting to put the pressure behind there is one who luffs me, who jibes. I was a little under pressure, they both did a great race, they did a two-up match in front. They do one and two and it's very good. I have a good place and a Rookie podium too so it's great. It's really super positive and I had a blast at sea. That was really the main thing, that was the goal. I took care of the guy, I knew the potential was there, I expressed it well. There's really a way to do cool things."
Romen Richard (Passion Santé Trans-Forme) 6th position:
“I didn’t want to take too many risks on this stage, I decided to play the shots that I felt good about and when I had more doubts, I chose to stay a little more with the fleet. I had some very good phases and the problem is that there were some very bad phases that totally ruined the good ones. So it’s a bit of a yo-yo every time for the general classification.
In the end, I had a bit of luck. For once that happens in Figaro, I see the general regrouping and I see that the fleet is stopped so I decide to go underneath and I manage to catch up with almost the entire fleet. I almost believed at one point that I was going to win the stage, but it was decided by very little.
I am happy with the final result, but in terms of the way, I can do a lot better so we will try to sail better on the second leg. I had quite a few small technical problems on the boat, it was the first time I climbed the mast alone at sea. In summary, I had quite a few ups and downs with a leg that was a bit complicated for me physically.”
Chloé Le Bars (Endobreizh) 7th position:
"I didn't get off to a good start, I didn't have a good start to the race, I never found the moment to succeed in dissociating myself from the group to try to do something and come back a little better placed in the group.
I didn't have enough speed to overtake anyone, I was on a par with the others all the time and at the end, I had a little helping hand from fate. The squall came at us with Arno (Biston) and we joined the group. Then, we got through to the finish so that's cool but it's true that there were a lot of little problems, it was a bit flooded in the boat and it scared me because it was right next to the batteries. So it was a bit stressful all the same to tell myself that my batteries were a bit underwater. Otherwise, the stage was very tiring, very intense, I managed to sleep quite a bit at the beginning but not the last two days, so I'm a bit tired.
Elodie BONAFOUS (QUEGUINER - La Vie en Rose), 8th position:
"I'm arriving with a fair bit of disappointment, I'm happy with my race, I feel like I sailed really well. I believed in it until I got to the front where it had to go completely nuts so I admit that I'm pretty gutted. It's not a big deal because I'm happy with what I did. In terms of time it's a stage that counts for nothing, but it's more in my head, I was happy to start with a podium, but I think I'll put it into perspective pretty quickly. We'll set off again for the next one with even more of a desire to get revenge for this little final Trafalgar."
Tom DOLAN (Smurfit Kappa - Kingspan) 9th position:
"Even if it's often the case here in Spain, I didn't expect so much commitment and for things to go so crazy at the end of the stage! But I'm happy with my stage overall and my weather management. I opted for the eastern option, and to pass the ridge by its eastern end. I'm tired but also in great shape and happy to get the Vivi Trophy back! For the next few days, my plan is recovery!"
Adrien SIMON (Faun) 10th position:
“It was a great stage, I had a lot of fun. I sailed pretty well even if it was a bit of a mess at the end, I didn’t do too badly overall, I made it to the top 10. I’m pretty happy for a first stage of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec. If someone had told me that at the start in Le Havre I would have signed up straight away. I’m really happy, we’re not losing any time to the competitors, we’ll have to rest and go full throttle for the second stage.”
Martin LE PAPE (Tomorrow) 11th position:
“I want to say that it's as if it were a stage that didn't exist in terms of time. It's true that it's a bit frustrating because, when you've done the stage at the front, you think that you would have liked to score a few points and that's not the case. But there are two good things, on the one hand it's as if we took the same ones and started again and on the other hand, since I was going fast and I was in the running, there's no reason why it wouldn't go as well in the second stage.”
Paul MORVAN (Foricher Les Moulins - Bagatelle) 12th position:
“It was hard, honestly, I suffered a bit at the start of the first leg. Now, I have two runners that broke when I arrived in England. So I'm already happy that the mast is still there and to have arrived because honestly, I don't know how it's still standing. The runner broke when there was 20 knots of wind, under gennaker. Honestly, I think the mast almost fell. Afterwards, it was tough when there was wind on the runners but I held on tight, I managed to get the upper hand mentally. It was fun at the end under spinnaker, the conditions were good, I had the leaders who were almost always in sight or in sight of AIS so that was really stimulating. The last two days were really nice even if the start was a bit harder. The finish put the cards on the table a bit flat. I think I must be 3 or 4 minutes behind the leader so that's nice. Now I have work to do on the boat because I want to do a stage at 100%. I can't wait to leave next Sunday with a ready boat."
Quentin VLAMYNCK (The Shooting Stars) 13th position:
“My start wasn’t great and then I had a little technical problem just before Wolf Rock. I had to go to the end of the bowsprit, at night to get back on the tack. I lost two miles, and then it took me 48 hours to catch up, it was long. It didn’t end the way we had imagined. This morning, on the weather report, we heard that there was possibly less wind at the finish. It’s not great to be between 15th and 20th, but on the other hand, there are very few time gaps so that’s cool. Now, we just have to start all over again, there are two stages left.”
Gaston MORVAN (Brittany Region - CMB Performance) 14th position:
“This stage wasn’t easy, I think it was harder for me than for a lot of others because I had a lot of technical issues that handicapped me, that made me steer the boat a lot, spend time making it move forward and it wasn’t easy. I put a lot of energy into it trying to fix the little issues. I had to put the race on hold for a lot of time. Otherwise, I made a few well-placed shots, but I don’t know what to think of this race. We’re going to have to forget about it a bit and tell ourselves that La Solitaire starts on Sunday. This first stage leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. But despite everything, there were some nice moments. Yesterday was good, there was beautiful light, it was great. I didn’t always enjoy it but after that, that’s the game, I’ll enjoy it more in the next stages. Physically, I’m pretty knackered. I have rarely been so burned out, I really couldn't let go of the helm. As soon as I fell asleep, I lost ground on the others. My brother is just ahead. I climbed to the top of the mast, it will remain a good memory.”
Pep COSTA (VSF Sports) 15th position:
“ It was hard work. It was tough, but I was up there. It worked out well. A pity that at the finish, it was so closed. I didn't do well passing the mark. I made a mistake, so dropped back a place. I think I could have made it to the top five, so it's a bit tough on me, but that's the way it goes. Apart from that, I'm pleased to be here. The time differences are tiny and sometimes even non-existent, so that's all very positive. On Sunday, it’s going to be a bit like starting from scratch, which is nice.”
“It was a lot of work. It was tough, but I was in the front. It worked out well. It's a shame at the finish, it was very close, I negotiated the finish line badly, I made a mistake and I lost a place. I think I could have reached the top five, so it's a bit tough for me but that's how it is. Apart from that, I'm happy, the time gaps are minimal or even non-existent, so it's very positive. Sunday is like starting from scratch, which is nice.”
Hugo DHALLENNE (YCSL - Primatice - SLB Pharma) 16th position :
“The first stage was super interesting with coastal waters at Barfleur at the start and then a bit more open water. I took a small fishing trap at Barfleur, just before Cherbourg. I also made a big trawler mooring before Wolfrock. Otherwise, it was a lot of strategy in the gulf, knowing when to pass the front and then, landing here in the soft water, so very complete.”
Victor LE PAPE (Brittany Region - CMB Espoir) 17th position:
“I'm really happy with my race, a little disappointed at the finish because it's true that the expected place is not the same but on the other hand, the time difference is minimal and if you look at the copy I submitted, I'm pretty happy with what I did. I came third in the intermediate sprint at Wolf Rock, I did some great moves, I had a great race. I'm a little late in sleeping, but it's pulling. We were heading for somewhat soft conditions. Honestly, I didn't see the soft wind, there was wind almost the whole time. But I ate well, drank well, I rested well. It was a pretty good stage but it wasn't easy on the body, we got really shaken up. The boat is fine, now we're starting from scratch, we did four days for nothing!”
Maël GARNIER (SELENCIA - CERFRANCE) 18th position:
“First of all, before talking about the end which was quite unusual, we got off to a good start from Le Havre. It was nice: I went third at the first buoy so I was in it from the start. Afterwards, I had a little problem hoisting the spinnaker, I misfired something, it didn't work out the way I wanted but I stayed in the right group and all the way through, I was in the top 10-15. I didn't burn myself out too much, I made good positions. I was happy with my speed, I stayed grouped with the leaders not far behind and at the end, I was this close to making a nice little comeback. I think I had a good place in the top seven or eight. Unfortunately, it was a close call but it was nice, I saw whales, orcas, dolphins. We're starting from scratch almost on Sunday. What we have to remember is the way I sailed on the stage and I am happy.”
Charlotte YVEN (Skipper Macif 2023) 19th position:
“We arrived in Gijon in the doldrums, the end of the race was played out in the calm. We're starting to get used to it on the Solitaire du Figaro. I'm going to drop a line to the Race Director to tell him that it's not nice! Because it's not very funny (laughs). But as a result, it really narrowed the gaps between the leaders and me who was a little behind, so it's a great stage. And it's Loïs who wins so I'm very happy for him!”
Romain LE GALL (Sailing Excellence Center - Secours populaire 17) 20th position:
“It was quite long anyway because we did three days of close sailing at the beginning, we did close sailing until yesterday afternoon if I'm not mistaken, so it was still long. On the other hand, I slept quite a bit, I wasn't in the running at the beginning, I managed to do something good and then I lost a lot of place in Alderney. I tried an option that didn't work at all. I stayed behind a bit and I had my plan in mind for last night, for the passage of the front, which allowed me to come back well. I thought I was doing well and I hadn't followed the rankings too much. And finally, I learned this morning that we were one and two with Alexis Loison. So, I'm a bit disappointed with the end because I would have liked to have finished second of course. But then, in terms of time, we all arrived at the same time so that's not what counts at all. Considering my stage, it's still positive, it could have been much worse than that. In terms of sleep, I managed to sleep well. Otherwise, I burst a water bottle right at the start, during the first hours of the race. So, I was a little scared, I told myself that I was never going to have enough water. And finally I managed to hold on until here.”
Alexis LOISON (GROUPE REEL) 21st position:
“Unfortunately the end of this stage did not reward the majority of the course. A few hours before, I could see myself doing a nice job.
I made a great comeback during the night, and then there was the passage to Wolfrock where I was really in the game. Then, I took back the lead of the standings. In the early morning, I really believed in it. I didn't hear the standings but I was called first to the call. I said to myself: this is positive. I saw that during the night, it had gone well. A small storm cloud at the end made me stop first and everyone passed me. But in the end, there was very little gap.
Come on, it's a blessing in disguise. At one point, I said to myself: not only am I not going to win the stage, but I'm also going to lose time in the general classification. In the end, let's say that the match hasn't started yet."