The start of the final leg of the 2011 Solitaire du Figaro (Photo credit Courcoux/Marmara – Le Figaro)

Phil Sharp on The Spirit of Independence will be giving it everything he’s got in the decisive 430mile final leg in the Solitaire du Figaro, which got underway from Les Sables d’Olonne on Sunday. The Overall winner of the 2011 Solitaire du Figaro will be the skipper with the lowest elapsed racing time over all four legs. Nothing is certain and the outcome could be surprising. The current overall leader Jérémie Beyou seems to be fairly secure with a 34-minute lead on second placed Fabien Delahaye, but anything can happen and there is still all to play for in this highly competitive race. This long coastal course will be very tactical and physically demanding and it won’t be easy for the skippers to get much time to sleep or relax.

There are several crucial points where the strong tidal currents will play a central role and race tactics will be vital, as Sharp explains prior to the race. “Everything is thrown into the mix for this final leg from Les Sables d’Olonne to Dieppe. We will be sailing through three of the world’s most notorious tidal gates and dealing with some very unstable weather conditions.”

The light to medium wind that is forecast will also add to the difficulty of this race. “There is a depression expected to move north through Brittany and across the Channel Islands but the timing and path of this is unclear. If it doesn’t move then we could be battling upwind for 75% of the race, and we could be out there a lot longer than we think. I’m taking 4 days worth of food, just to make sure I can keep the energy levels high all the way to the finish. Cookies and fruit cake in excess!”

Sharp on the The Spirit of Independence, has been well accustomed to racing alongside the race leaders throughout the previous three legs and is focused on being up there again in this final leg. “I’ve got nothing to lose, I’m just going to go for it’ says Sharp. He is currently placed 18th overall and 3rd in the rookie class, with only 44 minutes to make up over Morgan Lagraviere.

“I’m feeling very motivated for this final leg and still think there is every chance of taking the top rookie slot overall if my race goes to plan. The first half of the race is going to be about going as fast as possible and being in touch with the leaders around west Brittany. After this, it’s going to be a case of being clever with tactics - not doing anything too extreme in such unpredictable weather conditions, paying the tide correctly, and trying to get sleep where the conditions allow in order to stay mentally focused.”

Extremely close on Sunday evening after six hours of racing

At 6.30pm Sunday evening after six hours of racing the fleet is just off Ile d’Yeu. In this early stage of the race the lead position has changed several times and the fleet has split into two groups, one very close to the island composed of the current leader Frederic Rivet, second placed Sam Goodchild and Frederic Duthill whilst the other half of the pack have stayed much more East. Sharp in 23rd has positioned himself close to overall race leaders Jeremie Beyou and Fabien Delahaye who are currently in 11th and 16th position and in this more inshore group. It perhaps won’t be until morning that we see a lead group emerging. Sharp, less than two miles off the race leader is still very much in the running to form part of a lead group.