After a very encouraging 17th place in the Prologue race yesterday, Jonny Malbon and Artemis are ready to take the start of the 41st Solitaire du Figaro in Le Havre tomorrow. Fighting against 44 other competitors, including some of France’s finest soloists, the British skipper can’t wait to set sails for his second participation.

Watch the latest video interview with Jonny HERE

“This time last year, I would not have been capable of that result,” said a delighted Jonny Malbon looking back on the 17th place he managed to secure yesterday in the Solitaire du Figaro Prologue race. “It does not mean that things are going to be easy of course, but it’s certainly morale-boosting.” The two-hour race, in a weak breeze and a strong tidal current, was won by France’s current Singlehanded Offshore National Champion Gildas Morvan.

“The wind was very light,” continues Jonny, “and we had three general recalls before we could take a proper start. I chose not to fill the ballasts* and stayed out of trouble while there was a lot of shouting and boats banging on the line. I had a good first beat and upwind mark rounding, then things got more complicated and the fleet ended up split in two. I was confident with my tactical choice and was really glad to cross the finish line just seconds after Sébastien Josse, who’s definitely one of the top guys in the class. Franck Citeau, our coach from the CEM (Mediterranean Training Centre, was on the water and confirmed that I was not lacking any boat speed and that I could keep up with the best guys… That’s very positive and I’m happy it went so well.”

With a last day shore looking very busy between race briefings and measurements sessions, Jonny is now impatient to get into the thick of it having planned a very early night: “It’s quite clear that there won’t be a lot of opportunities to get some sleep on this first leg. By the look of it, it should take us four and a half days to reach Gijon in Spain. Even if I know it’s going to be very tough, I’m extremely positive and enthusiastic. This is the race I’ve been waiting for and I understand why so many of these guys are hooked! It’s a special event with an atmosphere of its own.”

Click here to follow Jonny’s Solitaire du Figaro - all the latest news, positions map and results.

*Editor’s Note: lateral water ballast tanks, providing extra stability, are generally used when the wind exceeds 7 knots. If filled in very light conditions they will slow the boat down.

A “pièce de résistance” for starters: Le Havre (France) – Gijon (Spain)
515 nautical miles (953 km)

The first leg of this 41st Solitaire du Figaro will start by a crossing of the Seine bay, heading to the West – North West in order to clear the Cotentin tip. The tricky business starts right after that, with the very powerful tidal currents of the Raz Blanchard, the fleet having then to chose between two main option to negotiate the passage of the Channel Islands: this first potential dividing point could prove determining for the outcome of the leg.

The first night won’t allow for any rest, since the skippers will have to keep a close eye on the treacherous rocks along the Pink Granite Coast and the Seven Islands area. Local knowledge could play an important part here, and competitors like Yann Eliès or Armel Le Cléac’h know that zone like the back of their hands… Going around Western Brittany on day 2 should not prove more relaxing since the way is paved with islands (Batz, Ile Vierge Molène, Sein…) and shallow passages where currents create amazingly disturbed sea states, even in the absence of wind – the term “cauldron effect” is a good description of what happens there!

Then, finally, the remaining 270 miles will be covered right in the middle of the Bay of Biscay, which can be tough too but at least offers some wide open spaces… well, on paper at least, because in a Figaro fleet you’re never far away from another boat! Gijon is a traditional Solitaire stopover, and strong winds have often been experienced by the fleet just before the finish line, making for an exhausting first leg.