Please select your home edition
Edition
Sydney International On-Water Boat Show 2025

A Heart Stopper to the Finish in La Solitaire URGO Le Figaro Stage 1

by La Solitaire URGO Le Figaro 30 Aug 2018 05:33 AEST 29 August 2018

In nearly 50 years of La Solitaire URGO Le Figaro there will be few finishes closer than that which is predicted for tonight's final 'denouement', a nail biting outcome to Stage 1 of this 49th edition, which this morning was shortened to 475 nautical miles.

After an initial compression in the fleet at Wolf Rock and then more so at the next turn 90 nautical miles later at Portsall - off the northern tip of Brittany. After that, there was at one time, 25 of the remaining fleet of 29 solo racers compacted into a 1.4 nautical miles postage stamp stretch of North Brittany coast line.

For top British racers Alan Roberts and Hugh Brayshaw it has been something of an emotional rollercoaster. Roberts (Seacat Services) was third around Wolf Rock and then took the lead down to Portsall early this morning before rounding in fourth, just two minutes and three seconds behind new leader Charlie Dalin (Skipper Macif 2015).

But as the fickle wind once again disappeared for the leaders and allowed a further catch up for some, Roberts dropped plummeted to 16th. Last year's amateur champion, 25-year-old Brayshaw (KEMAT) of The Offshore Academy was 11th at the race midpoint, Wolf Rock, last night but has worked his way up to fifth with Roberts now seventh at 60 nautical miles from the finish.

Were the British duo to both finish in the top ten it would be the first time on any La Solitaire stage. Best ever British finish was in 2015 when Henry Bomby finished a career best fourth into Concarneau, 15 minutes behind stage winner Sébastien Simon.

This leg, the longest stage of the four which comprise this 49th La Solitaire URGO Le Figaro has already seen Roberts lead out of Le Havre last Sunday, passing first at the Radio France buoy 90 minutes into the course, Anthony Marchand head the fleet at South Pullar to the east of the Isle of Wight early Sunday early evening, Corentin Douguet at Wolf Rock last night.

Next new leader was Charlie Dalin this Wednesday morning at the Grande-Basse de Portsall mark but most recently Marchand has retaken the lead, charging for a dream first ever stage win, sailing into his home bay where he first sailed an Optimist at nine before moving to Lasers.

But only half a nautical mile separates the top five skippers as the fleet sprint to the finish line off Saint Brieuc where the Stage 1 winner should cross the finish line around midnight local time. Even seasoned, hard bitten La Solitaire watchers refuse to predict who will win Episode 1 of Season 49.

Cyrille Duchesne of Meteo Consult, weather forecasters to La Solitaire URGO Le Figaro highlighted the weather for the final miles, "The northwesterly wind has struggled to return but it is building for the finish to 15-20 knots, going north-northwest when arriving at Baie de Saint-Brieuc. In these conditions, this last section of the race promises to be a straight line speed test there will scarcely be any tactics left."

As La Solitaire URGO Le Figaro approaches Saint Brieuc - for the first time in the 49 edition history of the famous French multi stage race, three skippers are on what for them is something of a home run.

Vincent Biarnes, Anthony Marchand and Ronan Treussart are all from the Baie de Saint Brieuc. Fred Duthil should have been in the thick of the amazing battle at the front of the fleet but retired into Cowes on the first night, after breaking a rope shackle at the head of his mainsail.

But the area's most famous and successful sailor, three times La Solitaire winner Yann Eliès, is not competing this year. One of only four three times victors – along with Jean Le Cam, Michel Desjoyeaux and Jérémie Beyou, Eliès grew up sailing on the bay and lived here until 2008, just before his first Vendée Globe. He still sails in the colours of the CMV Saint-Brieuc but is fully focused on his IMOCA Vendée Globe programme now.

"The bay is my garden, I spent 90 per cent of my life there and it is super important in my learning, there is everything there, hyper big tides, rocks, wind, mist and fog." Recalls Eliès who was delighted to learn that the race which took up 20 years of his life – and which was won in 1979 by his father - would, for the first time, visit his home town.

www.lasolitaire-urgo.com/en

Related Articles

A true attraction for non-French skippers
Hard work, training, and perseverance in the 56th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec The excellence of the French solo racing pathway is increasingly attracting non-French skippers who want to come, learn, and train in a discipline that, for now, remains very French. Posted on 25 Sep
Tom Dolan retires from Solitaire du Figaro
Flying Irishman injured his arm just one hour into the opening stage Reigning Solitaire du Figaro Paprec champion Tom Dolan confirmed this morning that he will withdraw from the third and final leg of the solo offshore race due to an injury sustained early in Leg One. Posted on 21 Sep
Tom Dolan at Solitaire du Figaro Leg 2 Day 4
For the Irish skipper there's good news and bad news Day four of leg two started in light airs for most of the fleet. The leading bunch have passed Cape Finisterre, funneling through a mandatory checkpoint gate added by the race committee, and are closing in Vigo, around 40 miles to the south east. Posted on 19 Sep
Dolan makes western gamble in Solitaire du Figaro
Currently 56 nautical miles (103km) behind the leader Offshore racing is about making educated guesses. You read the forecast, make your plan and sail to it. Posted on 18 Sep
56th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec Leg 2 day 3
Advantage to the Southerners On this second leg of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec 2025, between the Bay of Morlaix and Vigo in Spain, two options have taken shape over the past hours. Posted on 17 Sep
Dolan charges on in La Solitaire du Figaro Leg 2
The Kingspan skipper led a group that tacked out west around sunset As the second morning of Leg Two dawns, it's all about positioning out in the Bay of Biscay for the fleet of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec. Posted on 17 Sep
Dolan at front of the pack in Solitaire du Figaro
The fleet are now crossing the Bay of Biscay in Leg 2 Irish sailor Tom Dolan is on the leading edge of the pack in the second leg of the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec, with 385 miles (~710 kilometres) remaining in the leg that will finish in Vigo, in northern Spain. Posted on 16 Sep
56th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec Leg 2 start
After a 30-hour delay, the 34 sailors were finally able to head out to sea After a 30-hour delay, the 34 sailors competing in La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec 2025 were finally able to head out to sea and face the elements. At 7 p.m. this Monday, September 15, the starting gun was fired. Posted on 15 Sep
Dolan continues Figaro campaign despite injury
Leg 2 of the Solitaire du Figaro is set to start on Monday evening, after a 24-hour delay Irish Offshore Sailor Tom Dolan starts Leg 2 of the Solitaire du Figaro on Monday evening, after a 24-hour delay due to extreme winds. The 900km leg, delayed to allow dangerous sea conditions to ease, takes the fleet across the Bay of Biscay to Vigo. Posted on 15 Sep
La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec Leg 2 start tomorrow
After 486 miles of a modified course, the Spanish coast will come into sight On Monday, September 15 at 2.45pm, the 34 solo skippers will set course southwards towards the port of Vigo, Spain. A leg already shaping up to be demanding, with a depression forcing the race committee to postpone the start by 24 hours. Posted on 14 Sep
Vaikobi Custom TeamwearVetus-Maxwell 2021 v2 FOOTERCyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTER