Yann Elies (FRA)|
| | Nomination |
The 39-year-old French skipper survived a broken forestay and some tactical disasters on leg 3 to win his second consecutive Figaro race. Runs in the family, too, since his father Patrick won the event – then La Course de l’Aurore – back in 1979. In spite of his subsequent successes Eliès remains best known for his dramatic rescue after breaking his femur in the Southern Ocean in the 2008 Vendée Globe
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| Why they won |
| ‘A real legend and helpful to boot’ – Henry Bomby; ‘Back-to-back Figaro wins... a brilliant effort’ – Marcus Hutchinson; ‘The nicest and coolest guy in the Figaro fleet... and also the fastest’ – Dave Kenefick; ‘I’ll never forget seeing him sail past us at the Needles on his Figaro... completely naked. So very French!’ – Harry Spedding; ‘He never ducks an opportunity to help the younger guys in the Figaro fleet’ – Phil Johnston; ‘Perfectly typifies the French way of sailing, modest, helpful and of course bl**dy good’ – Ed Hill. |
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