The 53-year-old from the Hamburg Sailing Club has caught fire again and wants to continue sailing in the class until the planned Imoca is expected to be ready in autumn 2023. "The Figaro is merciless." This is Jörg Riechers' initial assessment after the brutal three legs of the 53rd edition. The solo sailor from Hamburg finished the third and final leg in 22nd place on the night of 8 September. In the overall classification, this means 21st place for the German skipper, who started the race so formidably with fourth place in leg one. "I tactically messed up this last leg," he admits honestly. And this is how it happened: "After a good start at Arcachon, I sailed further north under gennaker, while the others sailed lower under spinnaker. What I was able to get out in terms of a direct course was unfortunately not as effective as the boat speed that the others had. After that, the course of the leg was largely defined."
Jörg Riechers: "At Figaro, you always have to stay a little bit in the mainstream"
Riechers' learning curve was steep. On leg two, he was slowed down through no fault of his own by water ingress due to a defective inspection flap as a result of the re-measurement and a "blackout" of the on-board computer. One of the most important lessons learnt by the "Alva Yachts" attacker was: "You can't take as many risks in the Figaro as you can in the Mini or in the Class 40, for example, where there are more options for catching up and overtaking. You don't have that in the Figaro. You always have to stay a bit in the mainstream and use the options to the left and right in a rather small format." With the experience he has gained, Jörg Riechers wants to continue in the class next year. "It remains the best circuit to prepare for Imoca sailing," says the veteran, who lives in France with his wife Tiphaine Riechers. He will now take a two-week break and then get back into training.
Here is winner Tom Laperche in luck. The Frenchman and his rivals pop the champagne.
The overall victory in this 53rd edition of the French classic was secured in the final sprint by 25-year-old Tom Laperche on "Région Bretagne - CMB Performance". The Frenchman's boat speed was once again irresistible in his fourth Figaro participation. He finished eleventh in 2019 and had already finished third on the podium in both 2020 and 2021. Jörg Riechers says with respect for Laperche's performance: "Tom is a master of his trade. He never takes risks, his tactics don't have the touch of genius. He manages it with outstanding boat speed. That's been the case all season."
A thrilling top duel characterised this Figaro
Attacker Guillaume Pirouelle ("Région Normandie"), who had started the race so furiously and led the classification after two of three stages, each covering 630 to 700 nautical miles, had to admit defeat to the big pre-start favourite Tom Laperche in the final standings. Nevertheless, it is also a huge success for Guillaume Pirouelle.
The Youth 470 World Champion has only been very active in the class for two years. After adding up the three stage times and deducting the speed bonuses gained - a total of 11 minutes for Laperche and 5 minutes for Pirouelle - just 1 hour, 5 minutes and 54 seconds separated the beaming winner and the almost equally happy runner-up in the final classification. Laperche won the Figaro with a total sailing time of 10 days, 20 hours, 20 minutes and 22 seconds. Third place was secured by Achille Nebout on "Amaris - Prime Energie" in a total of 10 days, 21 hours, 55 minutes and 19 seconds.
The most successful sailor in this edition was Elodie Bonafous, who sailed into the limelight once again as third in the final leg and finished eighth overall. The 26-year-old "Queguiner La Vie en Rose" skipper was only around three and a half hours slower than the winner in her third Figaro participation across all three legs. Click here for the final ranking.
Sanni Beucke pays a lot of tuition fees, but gains experience
Newcomer Susann Beucke from the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein was still sailing in the final phase of leg three on 8 September, even though the Live tracker different information was available on the subject. The 49er FX silver medallist at the Japan Olympics only switched to the Figaro class in January 2022 with her "This race is female" campaign. She deliberately chose the most challenging of all classes for her ascent as a solo sailor. Her long-term goal is to take part in the 2028 Vendée Globe.
She knew when she made her decision that her path from 470 and skiff foresailor to sailing solo helmswoman would be steep and thorny. Beucke will probably reach the finish of the last leg in second last place. She would then also occupy this 28th place in the overall classification after a total of four tasks from other competitors in her Figaro premiere.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
