The last Solitaire du Figaro for the sailor from Vaud was full of emotions, both positive and negative.
Text: Grégoire Surdez
Gourds are expensive. Very expensive. On the Solitaire du Figaro 2023, Nils Palmieri went through extreme psychological states. Intense joy: when he finished 2nd in the first leg – “and even then, when we crossed the line, those who had cheated spoiled our raw emotions”, he says – and when he sailed in the leading group of the second leg. Deep distress: when fate intervenes in the form of an improbable weather turnaround. “Halfway through this second stage, at the halfway point, when I see that I’m with the two Normans, favourites for the event, and Tom Dolan, winner of the first stage, I tell myself that it smells very, very good.”
The legend of Le Figaro is also written in these coups de théâtre. A risky option taken by the latecomers on one side. A road closes in on TeamWork’s nose, a current reverses and Nils Palmieri finds himself like a cow watching the train go by. Helpless. “It’s just an awful situation. I clearly lost it and everything that could fly on the boat went flying. The adrenalin, the fatigue, you just get in such a state. At the finish line, I cracked. On the pontoon, I broke down in the arms of my trainer, who tried to cheer me up.”
Rough trials
Dreams of a final podium finish evaporated on this second leg for the Veveyan, who then drank the chalice to the dregs. “Not only did we get overtaken, but we also had to spend a night at sea. A night in hell, while the rest of us were already under the comforter. These are no longer seconds spent in this emotional elevator, they are hours that are hurting the rankings.
Enough to break any sailor’s morale. “On the third race, I’m clearly out of my depth and I’m not making the right choices. The final punishment is this ranking (editor’s note: 23rd, after being 18th in 2020, 20th in 2021 and 6th in 2022), which doesn’t really reflect my race and my level in the Figaro. But in the end, I’m leaving this race, not this class, with no regrets after four great editions that have enabled me to progress and become a much better sailor. My future is not yet clear, and several options are open to me. Initially, I’m lucky enough to be able to get a taste of IMOCA with Oliver Heer in a duo. After the Jacques Vabre, I’ll know more about my abilities and my desire to try, why not, my luck in this class of boats.”