Please select your home edition
Edition
Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca 2025

54th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec Stage 1 Day 3

by La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec 30 Aug 2023 12:58 EST 28 August 2023
The 54th la Solitaire du Figaro Paprec Leg 1: Elodie Bonafous in good spirits in the Celtic Sea en route to The Fastnet © Alexis Courcoux

Will the leader at Fastnet win into Kinsale?

The leaders of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec are due to reach the Fastnet Rock tonight, the long-awaited final turn of a 610 miles first stage from Caen, the lonely rock heralding a last 45 miles sprint into Kinsale, Ireland where they are expected Thursday morning.

All of their attentions have been focused on getting clear of a high pressure ridge and choosing their best position to get through a final front which then promises a fast, brisk final night at sea, 20kts from the SW with gusts of 25-28 kts set to finally give some fast downwind and reaching.

At the Isles of Scilly last night,Ireland's Tom Dolan (Smurfit Kappa-Kingspan) broke to the north east from the top group and held the stage lead through much of the day. But the Irish skipper has spent several hours slowed in the light winds and had dropped to fourth in the late afternoon.

The main peloton, including the solo-skippers who had led in the English Channel, Guillaume Piroulle (RégionBretagne), Corentin Horeau (Banque Populaire) and Basil Bourgnon (Edenred) are still tightly grouped some 30 miles to the west of Dolan, the Swiss skipper Nils Palmieri(Teamwork) and two French rookies Julie Simon (Douze) and BenoîtTuduri (Capso en Cavale) who were holding second and first places respectively a few hundred metres apart.

The western pack should be into the strong downwind conditions first. but will have sailed many more miles than Dolan whose logical focus seems to be sailing the shortest distance to the iconic rocky light he knows well.

The pretty, busy tourist town of Kinsale awaits with a warm welcome, one which should more than compensate for the forecast rain tonight. It is the 21st time that the race has been hosted by Kinsale - making it the most visited stop in the 54 year history of the solo offshore race, and it is he first time since 2019 when Kinsale the Stage 1 finish line when the race was contested in the Figaro BENETEAU 3 for the first time.

So this opening leg of three 600 plus miles stage seems to be very finely balanced but for sure whichever skipper or group are able to set their kites and surf directly towards the rock could gain an unbeatable advantage. The easterly breakaway are gradually converging with their westerly rivals.

Best British skipper is race third timer David Paul in 27th on Sailingpoiint.co/Just a Drop who is less than a mile ahead of Kiwi rookie Ben Beasley (Ocean Attitude) and Germany's Susann Beucke (This Race is Female). The young New Zealander has sailed a solid first ever La Solitaire leg but will be disappointed to be protested for sailing into the TSS exclusion zone at the Scillies, a tough rookie lesson to take.

They said, by VHF...

Corentin Horeau (Banque Populaire) 14th this afternoon, "I am withthe group, my buddies. the right pack. What more can you want at this stage. We have some sunshine before the grey weather forecast for the tonight intoIreland. At the Scillies there were quite a few possible choices. We'll see what that produces at the Fastnet. But to get there, you will first have to deal with the light winds all today. We were a little ahead of the routings butit is evolving. Logically we must pass the Fastnet at tonight with fairly strong winds especially. It might be a night for the hard hat but it should be nice by morning in Kinsale."

Loïs Berrehar (2022 MACIFSkipper), 16th "The wind has dropped a lot. It's light on this tack but I feel good I am in pretty good shape surprisingly. I just put on mygennaker, a sail for downwind work as it has lifted now. And that's a pretty good sign. It could allow us to finally accelerate towards the Fastnet. It is going to be an interesting night."

How to follow:

Related Articles

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
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
Transat Paprec Day 13
Cap Saint Barth has lit the fire! Competitors in the Transat Paprec - a race organized by OC Sport Pen Duick - and those familiar with the charts have become accustomed to it: Cap St Barth has been at the forefront since the start. Posted on 2 May
Transat Paprec Day 12
Charlotte Yven & Hugo Dhallenne: "Now, it's all in the mind too!" He checked in mid-morning, and you could hear the joy in his voice — Hugo Dhallenne is doing what he loves most: racing at sea. He's at the front of the fleet in the Transat Paprec and fully enjoying this adventure alongside Charlotte Yven. Posted on 1 May
Brain injury survivor to return to sailing
In support of Headway, the charity which helped him British sailor Robin Elsey-Webb is making a powerful return to offshore racing this year with the launch of Kernow Ocean Racing/ BlackDog Collaboration. Posted on 1 May
Transat Paprec Day 11
The Battle of the Leaders Now past the halfway point and sailing through the heart of the Atlantic, the competitors in the Transat Paprec are still locked in an intense battle. A windless zone expected later this week is drawing everyone's attention and forcing tough decisions. Posted on 30 Apr
Switch One DesignCyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERLloyd Stevenson - AC ETNZ 1456x180px BOTTOM