Nigel King starts the Solitaire Second Leg

Nigel King, from Lymington, left Crosshaven in southern Ireland on 6^th August on the second of four offshore legs in the famous annual Solitaire race for solo sailors. The course takes him to Brest via the Fastnet Rock, a total 344 miles. Conditions for the start were mixed with brilliant sunshine, sudden squalls with rain showers and a light breeze.

Earlier in the event, Nigel came top newcomer in the Prologue Race. He then embarked on the Caen/Crosshaven section, 415 miles, leaving The Needles Fairway buoy and Eddystone lighthouse to port. He acknowledged this, as his first taste of long distance single-handed sailing in an elite fleet, would be very much a learning experience.

The event is sailed in matching one-design Beneteau Figaros and the competition is close. Nigel admitted that even seemingly tiny mistakes cost several places. Commenting at the finish of the Crosshaven leg he said: “The place changing was huge. One minute you were feeling great having just taken three boats. Ten minutes later five boats would get through. Then you had to set to and come back.”

Nigel also realises he has much to find out about taking care of himself: “The lows normally come when you are really tired and think you can’t cope with the stress and fatigue. That’s when you must go to sleep. It seems to solve most things - with some food and, for me, a cup of tea.”

The high spots of Leg 1 were when the wind came up, conditions that suit Nigel and his boat: “The minute it’s windy and I am helming, whether it’s upwind or downwind, that’s when I seem to make my gains. Blasting along, with so many boats around you, is a great feeling.”

Had solitude turned to loneliness? Certainly not, Nigel was quite happy with his own company and reassured by the race management team’s system of keeping in touch and monitoring progress. He had also managed to listen to BBC Radio 5 racing along the south coast of England and said: “There are 50 boats out there with you. It’s like being alone but you know there are lots of people watching out for you if you do need anyone.”

The Solitaire fleet is expected in Brest on Wednesday 8^th August, where the city will welcome the event for the 10^th time.