The Breton had to fight hard to win the big race of the second event of the Figaro season, the “Le Havre All Mer Cup”.
« It’s a bit tight, I’m tired, it was hard and rarely so intense but I’m happy to have won “… Tom Laperche savors this Wednesday morning his victory in the great race of the “ Le Havre All Mer Cup », the second event of the season of the French offshore racing championship. Already winner of the first event on the Figaro Bénéteau circuit, the Solo Maître Coq, just a month ago, the monohull sailor Brittany Region CMB Performance had to fight to win in one breath after 2 days and 17 hours of racing. He was thus ahead of Loïs Berrehar (Skipper Macif 2022) by 45 seconds and Erwan Le Draoulec (Skipper Macif 2020) by 1’49”, Corentin Horeau, one of the great leaders of this long tour in the Channel, ranking fourth at 2’29.
« I started average from Le Havre but managed under the south coast of England to be second. We then broke away with Corentin but the fleet came back in the last part of Brittany-Cotentin. We all ended up together and the last leg last night under spinnaker towards Le Havre was exhausting. It’s cool to win, I’m very happy but the event is not yet won, there are still coastal courses (Thursday and Friday) “, confides Tom Laperche to Figaro.
With this success, he confirms his good start to the season and his status as the favorite for the Solitaire du Solitaire at the end of August. “ I’m in the game in terms of speed and I’m progressing in terms of strategy on the water, it’s coming, he observes. I’m working on it, because that’s what I missed to win the last Solitaire. To be confident in my choices and able to get out of the pack to take shots, while managing the risk. In order to win and win ahead… »
Unhook the timpani
Embarked for a time on board François Gabart’s trimaran Ultim SVR-Lazartigue, the very one which was not deemed to be compliant by those responsible for the class of flying boats and should see its destiny for the Route du rhum played out in front of the courts, Tom Laperche found his little Figaro Bénéteau 3 with pleasure. “ Everything is easier when you decide to maneuver ten seconds later. They are two completely different sports. You go ten times slower in Figaro but there is more fight in contact and strategy. And it’s always a pleasure to fight with the little friends. You have to go far to perform… » And to hope to win the timpani in this Solitaire du Figaro which wins him over, without letting himself be conquered for the moment.
For what should be his last Figaro season, his contract with the Brittany Region CMB Performance sector ending at the end of the year, “ after three and a half years which have gone very well “, the Breton wants to finish” with a beautiful Solitaire “. The following ? “ I do not know, he admits to us. The Imoca for the Vendée Globe will be in 2028. And by then I would like to do Multi 50 and Ultim. I love the multihull, it’s the most exhilarating and the most committed »…
Classification of the big race:
1. Tom Laperche (Bretagne Region CMB Performance) in 2 days 17 h 48’18”
2. Loïs Berrehar (Skipper Macif 2022) 45” from the leader
3. Erwan Le Draoulec (Skipper Macif 2020) at 1’49”
4. Corentin Horeau (Mutuelle Bleue) at 2’29”’
5. Guillaume Pirouelle (Normandy Region) at 9’36”
6. Basile Bourgnon (Edenred) at 23’17”
7. Philippe Hartz (National Navy – Sea Foundation) at 23’43”
8. Alan Roberts (Seacat Service) at 24’41”
9. Tom Dolan (Smurffit Kappa – Kingspan) at 25’47 ”
10. Elodie Bonafous (Queguiner – La Vie en Rose) 26’48”
11. Charlotte Yven (Team Vendée Boot Foundations)
12. Gaston Morvan (Brittany Region CMB Espoir) at 31’52”
13. Pep Costa (Team Play to B) à 34’52”
14. Nils Palmieri (Teamwork) at 35’13 ”
15. Laurent Bourgues (Become Partners) at 35’49”…
