Figaro Beneteau Circuit - 2014 program announced

by Marie-Astrid Parendeau on 20 Nov 2013 The 2014 Figaro Beneteau Circuit agenda has been announced. After a busy and intense year 2013, the Figarists already have their eyes set on the program for the 2014 season. The Transat AG2R La Mondiale will fire the first shot in double-handed. It will be followed by the three major events of the French Solo Offshore Sailing Championship including a new final. With six promotional races to complete the calendar, the season looks very promising for one of the most famous solo offshore circuit.

The official program of the Class Figaro Beneteau includes four competitions: The Transat AG2R La Mondiale, that will start on 6th April from Concarneau towards St Bartholomew is expecting no less than 20 duets for its 12th edition. Coming next are the three races of the French Elite Championship of Solo Offshore Racing.

Who will defeat the giant Gildas Morvan, crowned for the fourth time in 2013? To do such a feat, the sailors will have to show an unfailing regularity in the Le Havre Allmer Cup (end of May), La Solitaire du Figaro Eric Bompard cachemire (June 2014) and at last the championship final (August-September 2014) which will be an astounding first, as told by Didier Bouillard, the Class Figaro Beneteau president:

'To close our Championship, nothing better than an offshore race unprecedented in Figaro Beneteau 2. We are working on a round trip from the French Atlantic coast to the Azores (Horta). It will be fascinating on the water. The aim of our one-design Class has always been to present the best high-level circuit possible and avoid an escalating in equipment. A similar city to welcome the start and the arrival will be the guarantee of a controlled budget.'

While discussions are taking place with several cities and clubs, the Class Figaro Beneteau remains open to propositions before announcing the dates and course during the Nautic show in Paris.

In parallel to these four main events, the solo sailors will have the opportunity to take part in a wide range of preparatory races: The Icom Cup, the Solo Maître Coq, the Solo Concarneau, the Spi Ouest France Intermarché fully crewed, the Transmanche and finally the Solo Basse Normandie.

2014 Agenda
Icom Cup - March 2014
Transat AG2R La Mondiale – departure on Aprill 6 from Concarneau
Solo Maitre CoQ - from 8 to 12 April 2014
Spi Ouest France Intermarché (crew) - from 18 to 21 April 2014
Solo Concarneau Trophée Guy Cotten - from 28 April to 4 May 2014
Solo Basse Normandie – from 13 to 17 May 2014
Le Havre Allmer Cup – end of May 2014
Transmanche – from 6 to 8 June 2014
Solitaire du Figaro Eric Bompard – departure on June 8 from Deauville
Finale du Championnat – end of August / beginning of September 2014