56th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec Leg 2 Start tomorrow
by La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec 14 Sep 10:57 PDT
30 August - 27 September 2025
D-1 before the start of Leg 2 of the 56th edition of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec © Vincent Olivaud / OC Sport Pen Duick
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.
The opening 15 hours promise 25-35 knots of westerly wind, 4 to 5-metre seas, and a night passage around the tip of Brittany. A testing menu that will remind the sailors, from the very first miles, of the toughness of this legendary race.
After 486 miles of a modified course, the Spanish coast will come into sight — and the few days of rest in Vigo will certainly be well deserved.
A change of character
After a first leg full of constant course marks, four Channel crossings, and strong currents, the second stage of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec 2025 will unfold in three distinct parts.
First, a passage along the north coast of Finistère towards the Chenal du Four, followed by a night-time crossing of the Iroise Sea before rounding the Pointe du Raz and the Raz de Sein — among the most feared headlands in the world.
"After the coastal section in Morlaix Bay, sheltered from the sea, the skippers will quickly be exposed to the elements, as soon as they pass Île de Batz. Winds will be around 20 knots, rising steadily, with seas of at least 4 metres. We have set several compulsory waypoints to prevent sailors from getting too close to the coast. By nightfall, they should reach the entrance to the Chenal du Four. Conditions in the Iroise Sea will be rough, and they should pass Pointe du Raz towards the end of the night," explains Amélie Juvien, Deputy Race Director of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec.
After escaping this turmoil, the skippers face a long 355-mile leg towards Cape Finisterre, at the northwestern tip of Spain.
"There will be another depression in the Bay of Biscay to watch out for, but it's not yet well modelled," adds Juvien.
The final section will run down the rugged west coast of Spain towards Vigo. The steep relief produces many local effects, and with light winds expected at the finish, sailors' nerves will be tested right up to the line.
"Towards the end of the course, we know a high-pressure system will be established over northern Africa. We don't yet know if this will generate wind all the way to Vigo or if it will be much lighter. The finish remains uncertain. The idea is to keep pushing until the end," concludes Juvien.
A leg worthy of the Solitaire's reputation
This second stage will once again live up to the race's fearsome reputation. From the very beginning, sailors will be thrown into harsh conditions. They will need to settle quickly into race mode, brace against the weather, and never forget that on La Solitaire, the clock is running until the finish line.
Points are almost reset after each leg, and until the line is crossed, anything can happen. Alexis Loison (Groupe REEL), winner of the first stage, knows this better than anyone. Consistency is key, and winning one or two legs is no guarantee of overall victory.
La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec is a race against the clock: ruthless and relentless, it tests the sailors regardless of the elements or obstacles in their path. By the time they reach Vigo, bodies and minds will once again be exhausted after countless hours of intense maritime battle.
Words from the skippers
Quentin Vlamynck (Les Étoiles Filantes): "I try not to think too much about the opening hours, which will be tough. I don't really know how we'll manage, but we have to go, so we'll go. The main thing will be to avoid breaking anything, especially at the start. For once, we'll have to sail like true seamen, which is actually quite nice — it's been a while since that was the case in racing. It won't just be about performance. By the finish, we'll all have grown from the experience."
Hugo Cardon (Sarth'Atlantique): "We had an extra day of rest, which isn't bad. It also gave us more time to dig into the weather files — and it's looking pretty heavy. Personally, I like strong winds. We have to face it to get out of the Channel. It could mean more manoeuvres and a greater risk of gear damage, so we'll need to be very careful. The race will stay wide open, especially at the end, where conditions are still uncertain with the ridge of high pressure. Adaptability will be the key word for this second stage."
Adrien Simon (Faun): "It's going to be tough, with a lot of wind and sea. The preparation is about resting well, and then being careful with the boat. I'll try to make a stronger start to this second leg so I can finish with the boat at 100%."