One last tack under a dappled sky, he was able to let his joy burst out, raise his arms, applaud himself.
At the end of a third stage of four days and as many nights which will become legendary, Pierre Quiroga has brilliantly confirmed his domination in the 52nd edition of the Solitaire du Figaro.
Second in the first round then winner of the second, the sailor of the 2019 Skipper Macif boat masterfully won the third stage on Thursday between Fécamp and the Bay of Morlaix (624 miles).
And the southerner drove the nail in the general classification by taking more precious minutes from his two main rivals, Xavier Macaire (Groupe Snef) and Tom Laperche (Bretagne CMB Performance).
Disturbing mist
The one who said again this morning “The time is really long. I have almost more food, more water… and I'm fed up, ”cut the line at Roscoff in a state of advanced exhaustion. Like all the solo sailors emptied by this stage which will have seen them face along the English and then Welsh coasts of erratic winds, strong contrary currents, paralyzing cold and disturbing mist.
Physically tiring, nervously stressful, this stage has crowned the one who now seems on the road to winning the Solitaire. For his sixth participation, the 28-year-old sailor spins at a champion's pace, dominating in speed and never hesitating to stray from the Figaristes peloton to chart his ideal route. The sign of a master sailor. But nothing is over yet for Pierre Quiroga, who despite his lead of around 2 hours, knows that the Solitaire can be ruthless and refuse at any time. The fourth and final stage, which will start on Sunday in the Bay of Morlaix, will offer a climb to the famous Fastnet before reaching Saint-Nazaire, the end of this edition of madness. On the program 685 miles, that is to say a real and beautiful race.
