Yann Elies fights back

As Artemis Offshore Academy sailor Sam Matson hangs on to the rookie lead at the end of La Solitaire's leg 2

After dismasting on leg 1, Solitaire du Figaro defending champion Yann Elies (Groupe Queguiner) was first to cross the line in Roscoff to win leg two and his ninth Solitaire leg.

This represents an impressive comeback for the sailor who is hoping to enter the history book by becoming the first Figaro sailor to win the Solitaire three times in a row.

Elies dominated leg two and wasn't out of the top two since the fleet left Land's End, 440nm from Roscoff. He had a jostle with Gildas Morvan (Cercle Vert) as they raced across the Irish Sea, but after Fastnet Rock he pulled away from the other 36 solo sailors to cross the line almost 7nm ahead.

Elies commented: “I was inspired all the time on the first night, and from the Isles of Scilly I widened the gap. I was at one with the boat and what would happen. I was no longer competition for the others, it may be easier when you are no longer part of the race. The dismasting was difficult mentally but this puts the record straight. My new goal is to win stages. My strength is mental... I heard a little squeak in my mast when there was a little sea after the Isles of Scilly, I'm a little traumatised, I think that'll look all the time on the Solitaire. This is the first time I lost a mast like that, I thought that it does not dismasted Figaro. I look back at Wolf Rock, I have not seen, it is hidden, it was a little ashamed ... I often need to fall below before bouncing. It was hard to take after I'm never as good at the foot of the wall. I am not surprised, I started telling myself that I would win, I thought."

Sadly following his dismasting Elies is still only in 35th position overall with a 12 hour 16 minute deficit on the race leader. Given that Elies spanked the fleet on leg 2 and only finished

The battle for 2nd, 3rd and 4th place was closely fought. Corentin Horeau (Bretagne - Credit Mutuel Performance) managed to hold off Roscoff's own Jeremie Beyou (Maitre Coq) and Fabien Delahaye (Skipper Macif 2012), to cross the line 59 minutes after Elies.

Corentin Horeau commented: "I am super happy. This is a nice gift to get to Roscoff for my partners. I am also happy for Yann. Happiness is in place and in the ranking; this is the first time that I stayed this long with the best in the leading group. The Fastnet, it was magic, it was a first for me! We did not have much time to watch it, because I had a gybe. The Isles of Scilly I had never done either."

Sebastien Simon (Bretagne - Credit Mutuel Espoir) was the first rookie to finish, arriving in Roscoff at 02:05:48BST in 12th place. The 24 year old from Concarneau was 54 minutes ahead of British sailor, Sam Matson (Artemis 21).

Matson arrived at 02:59 BST this morning, surfing into Roscoff under a moonlit sky to finish the second leg 18th overall and third Rookie. Having raced two of the four legs that make up the full 2014 mile Solitaire course, Sam maintains his overall Rookie lead by 18 minutes and 14 seconds and sits 14th overall on the Solitaire du Figaro leaderboard after two legs.

Positioned 31st on the second day of racing (Monday), by that evening Matson had pulled back 12 positions to 18th on the approach to the Scilly Isles. It was here that he entered into a Rookie podium grudge match with Artemis teammate Rich Mason (Artemis 77) and Gwenolé Gahinet (Safran-Guy Cotten).

With early front-runner Sébastien Simon having sailed away with the Leg 2 Rookie podium top spot, the race was on for second and third. Mason was the first skipper to drop behind, leaving Matson and Gahinet to battle it out to the end – Matson eventually finishing just one minute behind the young Frenchman after three days, five hours, 33 minutes and 51 seconds of racing.

Matson reported: “First British skipper home for a second time, leading Rookie overall and top 20 on the overall leader board – of course I’m happy, I’m chuffed. It was a great race.

“I think I paced myself quite well in this leg. There’s always the danger that when you’re at the back of the fleet like I was at the beginning of the race, you push too hard and then knacker yourself out for the rest of the race. I started at the back of the fleet after a poor windward leeward start in Plymouth Sound, but from there I slowly gained places and didn’t loose any – that’s a really nice feeling.

“I was pretty gutted to lose out to Gwenolé just coming into the finish line, but he made some good calls and I think he probably was working a bit harder that I was, not that I was taking it easy, but I didn’t see him leave the helm once on the final leg – he was just driving hard all the way home and for that he deserved his lead. Sébastien (Simon, Leg 2 Rookie winner) sailed a killer race from the off, as did Gwenolé sail a great race. They deserve first and second. It’s nice to know I’m competitive amongst the fleet.”

The next British skipper on the dock was Rich Mason in 21st position, seeing Rich sit 22nd on the overall leader board. Next into the harbor was a disappointed Sam Goodchild (Team Plymouth) in 24th, Jack Bouttell (GAC Pindar) in 27th, Nick Cherry (REDSHIFT) 28th, Rookie Alan Roberts (Artemis 23) 32nd, Henry Bomby (RED) in 35th and Ed Hill (Macmillan Cancer Support) 36th. See full results below or on the Solitaire du Figaro website.

As the sun rose over the Brittany Port, Gwenael Gbick (Made in Midi) made it across the finish line, the last of the Solitaire fleet almost 5.5 hours after Elies. At 535nm, Leg 2 was the longest of the 2014 edition of La Solitaire du Figaro - Eric Bompard Cachemire. Now the sailors have the longest stopover, four whole days to rest and recharge in Roscoff before Leg 3 starts on Sunday.

Results Leg 2

Overall results after leg 2