After a diabolical end to the race, Loïs Berrehar won in Gijón, the end of the first stage, to finally win a round.
Special envoy to Gijon
It was necessary to have strong nerves as we approached the finish line on the Asturian coast on Thursday noon. The strong, downwind wind since the previous day in the Bay of Biscay had slyly decided to play the air girls 10 miles from the finish. From then on, the boats slipped along in a waxy slowness. The end of the cavalcade, time for the random where the devil is in the detail. In this final regrouping, the second class passengers even found themselves in first class without having been invited. In the game of three-card bonneteau, it was finally and fortunately the most active in the event who had the honors of congratulations. Loïs Berrehar (Skipper Macif 2022) took the prize by a short head. On the podium, ahead of Basile Bourgnon (Edenred) by 61 seconds and Jules Ducelier (Normandy Region) by 1 minute and 35 seconds.
The Morbihan native could exult, the champagne cork satellite once at the pontoon. After 709 miles actually covered, it was his first stage victory while he is in his sixth participation: « It took me a while but it’s done. We could have been poorly paid because we sailed well but it was a close call. With Basile, we made few mistakes. Always in the right tempo. Whether it was in the speed or the options, in the management of the effort and the boat. As good memories, I would remember the night passage of the Cotentin point in the rocks. I didn’t sleep. Afterwards, it’s about having been in the right pack all the way. For the rest, I just have to enjoy myself, without revolutionizing my way of sailing. »
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Basile Bourgnon could also rejoice, he who had won a stage last year: “I don’t think I turned in too bad a performance, even if the end played tricks on us. By losing all the lead we had built up throughout the stage. A stage that is useless for the general classification. But that’s what I came looking for in this third year on the circuit, to sail in front and be the leader while trying to keep the lead. I’ve already had some finishes in the soft but not as complicated. We managed to pull through and I don’t think it was undeserved. It’s good for the head.”
A round of almost four days
Basile Bourgnon knew that the unfortunate loser of this round of almost four days was Alexis Loison (Groupe REEL), leader of the joust for three quarters of the course. « In fact, I didn’t know where Alexis was. That’s the advantage and disadvantage on the Figaro circuit, we only have the ranking and the distances from the finish and not the visualization of the others’ routes. It was only when I saw his spinnaker at the end that I knew we were in front », concludes the 22-year-old sailor who will be moving to a new boat in the coming months, the Ocean Fifty trimaran.
First rookie and 3e of the stage, Jules Ducelier (Normandy Region) was not unhappy with this particular finish, coming from light sailing and regatta: « Good reflexes come back when it’s the right time. Especially when there are people everywhere and you have to get past them. I had been passed by four or five at 40 meters from the line. And I had to set the fire. You never know, on a misunderstanding. And that’s what happened. During the descent into the Bay of Biscay, I was one notch behind Basile, Loïs and Élodie, just behind Martin Le Pape (Région Bretagne-CMB Espoir). We also suspected that there was a second pack that had rebuilt somewhere because we could no longer see Alexis. After a stage like that, I understand those who come for the 18e times. It’s still pretty great. With the first night in the rocks, play in the ridges, a downwind jump, play from start to finish… »
In the provisional general classification, it is finally Basile Bourgnon who takes the lead, thanks to his 3 bonus minutes collected at the intermediate passage of the Wolf Rock lighthouse. Now it’s time for a well-deserved rest in a bed that doesn’t move. The second leg towards Royan via Cape Finisterre will begin on Sunday.
Ranking of the top five before jury : 1. Loïs Berrehar (Skipper Macif 2022) in 3 days 21 hours, 59′ 56”; 2. Basile Bourgnon (Edenred) at 1′ 1”; 3. Jules Ducelier (Normandy Region) at 1′ 35”; 4. Arno Biston (Tizh Mor) at 1′ 39”; 5. Thomas de Dinechin (Almond) at 1′ 55”… Hugo Le Clech and Arthur Meurisse (Mieux) won the Défi Paprec (the only first stage contested in doubles).
