Top sailors meet the locals at Living Coasts
Top British sailors from the Solitaire du Figaro race called in at Living Coasts to meet the penguins.
The eight, including South West sailors Sam Matson, Henry Bomby and Robin Elsey, dropped by to feed the penguins at Torquay’s coastal zoo and aquarium, which is hosting the media centre for the race when it comes to Torquay in June.
La Solitaire du Figaro comes to Torbay in June. Involving 40 boats, it is considered to be the world championships for single-handed yachtsmen and women and is one of the most cherished races in French sailing.
In addition, Sam, from Exmouth, Henry, from Dartmouth, and Robin, from Truro, were presented with lucky penguin mascots to see them on their way.
The eight, along with eight French colleagues, had just completed a 500 mile dress rehearsal for the 2,185 mile solo offshore race, sailing from Lorient in France across the channel to the Fastnet Rock, around the island of Lundy and into Torbay. Torbay is the only UK stopover on the Solitaire du Figaro course in 2015.
La Solitaire du Figaro arrives in Torbay this June. Torquay’s coastal zoo and aquarium is hosting the media centre for the event. The official fourth leg race start will be at 4.00pm on Sunday 21st June.
