Top start of the Solo Concarneau - Guy Cotten Trophy 2018

Second event of the French Elite Ocean Racing Championship in Figaro Bénéteau 2.

Sailors have to deal with strong winds and calm, rocks and current, on the 255-mile course between Belle Ile and Ouessant. The double title holder Charlie Dalin (Skipper Macif 2015) is already leading the solo fleet, followed by Sébastien Simon on Bretagne CMB Performance. In the double-handed category, the young crew Loïs Berrehar/Erwan Le Draoulec on "Concarneau Entreprendre" stands out from the 10 other double-handed crews. Let's go for two days and two nights of racing !

The race director, Hervé Gautier, details the conditions of the start: "After a general reminder, the fleet of 24 solos started at 15:22 followed 18 minutes later by the duos. The conditions in the area were in line with the forecasts, with a 15-knot south-southeast flow. The skippers are now heading towards Belle Ile upwind in a strengthening wind, which they should reach around 3:00 am tonight. However, we already regret one retirement with Nick Cherry returning to port with a back problem.

The first competitors are expected to return to Concarneau on Saturday midday.