The Figaro fleet is come to Camaret. That is the Beneteau built Figaro One Designs, in their latest foiling incarnation. Bedrock of the buoyant French short (usually single) handed offshore racing scene. Feeder class to the Mini Transats, Class 40's and IMOCA's. Today racing fully crewed.
The boats form up. Circling the start line. Testing their sail hoists. Finding the slant of the breeze. Which gusts, out of the Goulet de Brest, at twenty five to thirty knots.
Tactics are talked. This will be a stern test of mettle, for boats and crew. Preparation is all. Thinking through the options, in advance.
Timing runs are made, to the line. Boats already well powered up, under mainsail only. Whitecaps studding the waters.
The gun fires. The fleet crosses the line in unison. One unfortunate is squeezed out, to the windward end. And tacks away to re start.
No quarter is given. The racing neck and neck. The boats on the ragged edge of control. Driving hard.
Plumes of spray cascade aft, from the foils, as the fleet frees off, hoists spinnakers and flies seaward.
Before they are lost to sight, shooting the Toulinguet Passage. In the direction of Douarnenez.
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