On Monday, August 10th, the next leg to Dingle will commence.
LEG 3 SAINT-GILLES CROIX DE VIE – DINGLE (485 MILES)
The 40th edition of La Solitaire du Figaro could not miss out on Ireland. With 485 miles to reach Dingle, the race continues for the competitors. The beginning of the leg will take the skippers back to the Île d’Yeu for the compulsory passage of the Sablaire mark, to be left to starboard, East of Joinville harbour. Approximately one hundred miles are to be sailed to reach the Cardinal West buoy Cap Caval, in the immediate approaches of the point of Penmarc’h. This section, sailing with a North-westerly, could prove tricky due to the many land obstacles to be negotiated such as Belle Île, Île de Groix and the Glénan archipelago, where tacking will be required, unless competitors opt for a more radical approach, sailing a Westerly course offshore to reach Cape Caval.
From Cape Caval to Dingle, the direct route offers the choice between the challenging passage of the Sein current and the Westerly option, leaving the Île de Sein to starboard. Next, the skippers will have to cross the Iroise Sea, leaving the Ushant South-West Racon to starboard in order to avoid the Ushant Traffic Separation Scheme.
Over 220 nautical miles are to be covered from the Brittany point to the Fastnet, which marks the approach to the South coast of Ireland. The Celtic Sea, well-known for its turbulence, could prove hard to digest…
From the Fastnet to the finish, the remaining 60 miles could be exhausting. The coastline, so beautiful yet so craggy, will demand very precise navigation with the effects of the area due to the coastline and capes to be negotiated such as Mizen Head, Dursey Island, the bay of Ballinskellig, Puffin Island and finally Bray Head and the Bearhaboy rip-rap. The name of the winner of the third leg will not be revealed until after the fifteen-mile crossing of Dingle bay.
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