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Displaying items by tag: RS 100

The first Eurosaf Freestyle Championship in RS Feva's and RS 100s took place at Brenzone (Verona) on July 16th and 17th at Lake Garda.

The debut event in Italy was created with the aim of being spectacular for the sailors and yet simple to follow by spectators. The event launched new courses, new scoring systems and new race rankings, all designed to thrill not only practitioners, but also all lovers of sailing. The RS100 and the RS Feva were selected for the Championship due to their suitability for the action packed courses requiring fast and manoeuvrable boats.

The crew Matteo Pilati and Mattia Duchi won in the Junior Class after an exciting final race against Andrea Dall'Ora-Gianluca Virgenti, who last week won the Italian RS Feva Championship. The final was raced on a one against one basis, over a parallel slalom course, the result of which determined the overall winner. "Sailing downwind in the fleet race was a lot of fun" said Matteo Pilati at the helm of the RS Feva. Crew Mattia Duchi added, "It was so exciting racing the parallel slalom."

In the RS100 fleet Karlo Hmeljak from Slovenia won the regatta. "I'm very happy to take part in such an innovative event" he said. "I think the new course and scoring systems are a good solution to help promote sailing. I have never seen so many people watching."

Marcelo Saguier from Argentina took second place, while Paul Childs from the UK finished third. The sailors competing in the Senior Class found the new format to be successful. "I think it was thrilling for the spectators who could watch boats tacking and gybing from a very short distance. I hope other similar races will be organized in the future", commented the Italian Luca Bursic who raced against Paul Childs for the third and fourth place.

The Eurosaf Freestyle Championships in RS100 and RS Feva was organized by Eurosaf, the Yacht Club Acquafresca at Brenzone and by FIV (Italian Sailing Federation), sponsored by Marine Pool, with the support of RS Sailing and Boattech, the Italian dealer of RS boats in Italy.

Summing up the event, Eurosaf President, Marco Predieri, said "We're always planning to create new innovative sailing ideas for competitors, yet that are attractive to spectators. An encouraging number of sailors from different countries, at both senior and junior levels took part into the first Eurosaf Freestyle Championship. It will be a starting point for other new events in the, especially to attract and involve young people into the sport."

Published in RS Sailing

Ireland & La Solitaire du Figaro

The Solitaire du Figaro, was originally called the course de l’Aurore until 1980, was created in 1970 by Jean-Louis Guillemard and Jean-Michel Barrault.

Half a decade later, the race has created some of France's top offshore sailors, and it celebrated its 50th anniversary with a new boat equipped with foils and almost 50 skippers Including novices, aficionados and six former winners.

The solo multi-stage offshore sailing race is one of the most cherished races in French sailing and one that has had Irish interest stretching back over 20 years due to the number of Irish stopovers, usually the only foreign leg of the French race.

What Irish ports have hosted The Solitaire du Figaro?

The race has previously called to Ireland to the following ports; Dingle, Kinsale, Crosshaven, Howth and Dun Laoghaire.

What Irish sailors have raced The Solitaire du Figaro?

So far there have been seven Irish skippers to participate in La Solitaire du Figaro. 

In 1997, County Kerry's Damian Foxall first tackled the Figaro from Ireland. His win in the Rookie division in DHL gave him the budget to compete again the following year with Barlo Plastics where he won the final leg of the race from Gijon to Concarneau. That same year a second Irish sailor Marcus Hutchinson sailing Bergamotte completed the course in 26th place and third Rookie.

In 2000, Hutchinson of Howth Yacht Club completed the course again with IMPACT, again finishing in the twenties.

In 2006, Paul O’Riain became the third Irish skipper to complete the course.

In 2013, Royal Cork's David Kenefick raised the bar by becoming a top rookie sailor in the race. 

In 2018, for the first time, Ireland had two Irish boats in the offshore race thanks to Tom Dolan and Joan Mulloy who joined the rookie ranks and kept the Irish tricolour flying high in France. Mulloy became the first Irish female to take on the race.

Tom Dolan in Smurfit Kappa competed for his third year in 2020 after a 25th place finish in 2019. Dolan sailed a remarkably consistent series in 2020 and took fifth overall, the best finish by a non-French skipper since 1997 when Switzerland’s Dominique Wavre finished runner up. Dolan wins the VIVI Trophy.

Dolan finished 10th on the first stage, 11th on the second and seventh into Saint Nazaire at the end of the third stage. Stage four was abandoned due to lack of wind. 

Also in 2020, Dun Laoghaire’s Kenneth Rumball became the eleventh Irish sailor to sail the Figaro.

At A Glance – Figaro Race

  • It starts in June or July from a French port.
  • The race is split into four stages varying from year to year, from the length of the French coast and making up a total of around 1,500 to 2,000 nautical miles (1,700 to 2,300 mi; 2,800 to 3,700 km) on average.
  • Over the years the race has lasted between 10 and 13 days at sea.
  • The competitor is alone in the boat, participation is mixed.
  • Since 1990, all boats are of one design.

2023 La Solitaire du Figaro Course

Stage #1 Caen – Kinsale : 610 nautical miles
Departure August 27 (expected arrival August 30)

Stage #2 Kinsale – Baie de Morlaix : 630 nautical miles
Departure September 3 (expected arrival September 6)

Stage #3 Baie de Morlaix – Piriac-sur-Mer : 620 nautical miles
Departure September 10 (expected arrival September 13)

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