Sharp sails through Figaro door

Wednesday 25th May 2011, 7:28AM BST.

Jersey yachtsman Phil Sharp has qualified for the Solitaire du Figaro race

JERSEY solo sailor Phil Sharpe overcame the loss of the majority of his electrical equipment to win the 250-mile Solo Basse Normandie race at the weekend – and entry to this year’s prestigious Solitaire du Figaro.

Sharpe crossed the finishing line first despite an exhausting first night when he lost the use of his auto pilot system when his electronics system malfunctioned.

Route du Rhum class winner Sharpe overcame his misfortune to beat off the other 16 starters, to qualify for the Figaro in August.

The Solo Basse Normandie race was a challenging 40-hour coastal race that took the fleet around Jersey, a real test for the fleet with the Island’s tidal currents and tricky coast line.

Sharpe said: ‘Obviously I’m delighted to have won; it was an exhausting first night because I use the auto pilot for between 60 and 70 per cent of the time but it was a big difficulty being without it.’

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