Please select your home edition
Edition
Allen Dynamic 40 Leaderboard

Tom Dolan promises prudence and a 'foot to the floor' attack on Leg 1 of La Solitaire du Figaro

by Tom Dolan Racing 23 Aug 2021 01:35 PDT
Tom Dolan - La Solitaire du Figaro © Tom Dolan

Tom Dolan, the leading Irish solo sailor, started the first stage of the 52nd La Solitaire du Figaro in perfect conditions from Saint-Nazaire - on outer reaches of France's Loire estuary - pledging to stick to his strategy but to give everything to be near the front of the peloton when the 34 strong fleet turns at La Coruna for the return upwind to the finish at Lorient where the leaders should arrive Thursday afternoon.

Starting his fourth La Solitaire du Figaro La Solitaire, the 34 year old skipper of Smurfit Kappa-Kingspan would love to emulate the dream opening to his race last year when he was in the leading group to the Fastnet rock. But on this 300-miles downwind sprint to the NW Spanish coast will see the breeze increase as the race progresses he admits he will be happy to be in the leading group for the turn.

Three exclusion zones have been introduced by Race Direction to keep the fleet away from a French Navy exercise on the Bay of Biscay. The choice of how to pass them, in particular with regard to the timing relative to the shifts in the wind direction, may shape the leg and Dolan has a well prepared choice of options.

"I know what I would like to do but I won't say before the start," grins Dolan, "It will be all about the timing when we get there. But always I will stick to my plan, I have done my homework and learned now to be confident in my choices for the right reasons."

"That said," he continues, "We have to make sure we don't get into the exclusion zones as you will be disqualified. Whoever is in front will get the increasing advantage because the boat tends to accelerate more the more wind, going downwind. With the zone of high pressure in the Bay of Biscay like this then there is always this zone of acceleration there. There could, however, be some flap-flap, light wind at La Coruna where we will round very early morning and it is very close in to the coast."

The course has been shortened because of the possibility of light winds near the Lorient finish line on Thursday afternoon.

"Some of the weather files are showing very light winds at the finish and so we can maybe go out there and kill ourselves for three days and all end up in the same spot near the finish. Who knows? Really this is a typical Figaro leg. It will be important to be foot to the floor off the start line to get into the downwind well. It will be hard to scrape back miles on the upwind. So downwind that means a lot of driving and pushing hard. Initially not too much wind, 10-12kts on the first night, fairly calm. At Spain we will maybe see 25kts maybe 30 and so it will be important not to destroy the big spinnaker on the first leg."

In champagne sailing conditions bright sunshine and moderate breezes Dolan was mid-fleet as the race left the bay at Saint Nazaire.

www.lasolitaire.com/en

Related Articles

Transat Paprec 2025 review
The lessons of an unforgettable edition A breathtaking finish, unbearable suspense, a favorite who lived up to expectations (Skipper Macif), a Saint Barth native who shone to the end, young talents gaining experience... This Transat Paprec fulfilled all its promises. Posted on 13 May
Transat Paprec Finish - The most beautiful night
Charlotte Yven claims victory again under the Skipper Macif banner, this time with Hugo Dhallenne From the explosion of joy of Charlotte Yven and Hugo Dhallenne (Skipper Macif) to the happiness of Thomas de Dinechin and Aglaé Ribon, less than three hours passed. Posted on 9 May
Transat Paprec Day 19 - hours from the finish
The first boats are expected to arrive in the middle or late part of the night in Saint Barthélemy In less than 24 hours, we'll know the winner, the podium, and the full rankings of this incredible Transat Paprec. As they battle through a windless zone that's capturing everyone's attention, the competitors know that anything is still possible. Posted on 8 May
Transat Paprec Day 18
48 Hours to Glory By Friday, the outcome of the Transat Paprec will be known. But who will have the final say? Who will seize the advantage, who will get stuck, who will claim an honorable finish, and who will be left disappointed? Posted on 7 May
Lush aims for Solitaire du Figaro Qualification
In the Solo Maître CoQ at Les Sables d'Olonne, France Rhode Island-based offshore sailor Erica Lush is making her next attempt to qualify for the prestigious Solitaire Du Figaro this week in the Solo Maître CoQ race in Les Sables d'Olonne, France. Posted on 7 May
Tom Dolan retires from the Solo Maître CoQ
Following an unfortunate incident during the first inshore race Tom Dolan, skipper of Kingspan, was forced to retire from the Solo Maître CoQ Series following an unfortunate incident during the first inshore race held yesterday in Les Sables d'Olonne. Posted on 7 May
Transat Paprec Day 17
"An Atlantic Crossing with the Intensity of La Solitaire" They've proven that persistence pays off—even when faced with serious setbacks. Lola Billy and Corentin Horeau had to make a pit stop in Lisbon during the first week of the race to replace a damaged rudder. Posted on 6 May
Night sailing, Transat Paprec, Congressional Cup
Night sailing, encountering light airs in the Transat Paprec, Congressional Cup We bundled up as the last of the rays sunlight dipped below the Olympic Mountains and night quietly fell on Puget Sound. We'd been racing for about twelve hours in the Seattle Yacht Club's Protection Island Race (April 26), and we were getting tired. Posted on 6 May
Tom Dolan lines up today for the Solo Maître CoQ
A new solo race test before the Figaro Starting Tuesday, May 6, Tom Dolan, skipper of Kingspan, will be on the start line of the first race of the 22nd edition of the Solo Maître CoQ in Les Sables d'Olonne. Posted on 6 May
Transat Paprec Day 15
As the final sprint begins, reflecting on the unique journeys and experiences Among the 19 duos who set off from Concarneau, 8 are international teams, including 5 from the UK. Posted on 4 May
Armstrong 728x90 - MA Foil Range - BOTTOMLloyd Stevenson - AC Alinghi 1456x180px BOTTOMDoyle_SailWorld_728X90px_cruise BOTTOM