Jean-Pierre Nicol rounds off the season with a victory!

It was with glorious sunshine and a deserved victory – the first of the circuit for Jean-Pierre Nicol – that the Quiberon Solo drew to a close today and with it the Figaro Bénéteau season 2011. Largely dominating the only race contested this Friday – a long 20-mile coastal course – the skipper of Bernard Controls was finally able to show what he’s made of on the race zone, treating himself to the luxury of a happy ending. Twelfth in the French Solo Offshore Racing Championship standing (prior to validation by the French Sailing Federation), the sailor has progressed in leaps and bounds this season.

It’s worth knowing that Jean-Pierre Nicol isn’t one to rest on his laurels, especially after an earlier disappointment. As such, struggling to get his bearings in the Baie de Quiberon this week, the skipper of Bernard Controls was keen to round off the season on a positive note, not just for him but also to thank his partner for its loyalty. With just one coastal course of around twenty miles on today’s programme, he had to demonstrate both assurance and conviction. Opting for the left side of the race zone, the skipper of Bernard Controls pipped all his rivals to the post from the very first mark rounding and left nobody the opportunity to make up the deficit. Stretching out a fine lead with every passing mile, Jean-Pierre won the race in style, truly dominating for the first time since his arrival on the Figaro Bénéteau circuit: “I played with the current a great deal and I managed to draw on my knowledge of the race zone. I rounded the marks ten minutes before the others, which is unheard of in the Solitaire du Figaro! It’s my first victory and I’m really delighted about it. I hope that it’s a sign of things to come for next season! I’m really happy on a personal level, but above all I’m happy for my partner. I’m happy to give this victory to all those at Bernard Controls. I’m finally beginning to feel at ease when the courses are longer, which makes a pleasant change! This week, this type of format suited me better”.

From a round-the-cans sailor to an offshore man

By dint of training, sheer stubbornness and hard work, this born racer with a penchant for inshore sprints has become an offshore man and has continued to improve from one season to the next. Though his fifteenth place in the Quiberon Solo isn’t necessarily the position he originally had in his sights, the skipper of Bernard Controls has nevertheless drawn some more than positive lessons from the event: “I’m really getting the sense now that my trajectories are beginning to get more fluid. I’m up there with the fast boats. I’ve felt a bit of fatigue towards the latter part of the season so it’s up to me now to fire myself up so that I’m in on the action all the way to the finish, right up to the last race. Overall though, I really feel more at ease to be able to express myself. I’m still a long way from being able to dominate the fleet so I have some work ahead of me. However, I feel a bit easier with myself than most. That’s also what helps me to go the distance. One thing for sure is that I’ve really got a solid grounding now thanks to the CEM (training school in the South of France). I can now rely on some good experience too. On a technical level, there’s no longer a massive difference between the person in first place and me. It all comes down to little details now”.

Twelfth in the French Solo Offshore Racing Championship 2011 (prior to validation by the French Sailing Federation), an assured Jean-Pierre Nicol is keeping going on his mission to get up into the celebrated Top Ten. “They’re the most difficult places to bag” says the skipper of Bernard Controls. However, we can certainly count on him to work up to a prime position next season!