Tom Dolan: The rocky mindset
by Tom Dolan Racing 3 Mar 00:16 PST
On the dawn of his ninth season on the Figaro circuit, the most competitive racing circuit in the world, Tom Dolan returns to competition with an abundance of energy.
Stopped dead in his tracks last year by a brutal injury that forced him to withdraw from the Solitaire du Figaro, the Kingspan skipper is back with renewed passion and energy. Like a fighter who prefers to jump back in the ring without delay, he sees the early timing of this year's event as a real opportunity: to use the momentum of a comeback to get back on track quickly and strongly.
Knocked down but not defeated
Last season, the Solitaire du Figaro, the premier event of the French Elite Offshore Racing Championship, ended abruptly for the Irishman, due to a bad injury to his forearm, leaving a bitter taste of unfinished business. After a dense and intense season, he needed a real break, probably for the first time in his career. 'After getting hurt, I realised that I desperately needed to take a break, I was exausted both physically and mentally, it had been non-stop since winning the event in 2024 and I needed to reset' he explains. He compares his mindset to one of a 'Rocky' comeback: the fighter who is knocked down, gets back up, takes another blow, and then returns to training with ten times the determination. 'I see it as though I have been knocked out. But that's exactly what makes you want to come back again as soon as you can This rebuilding process is also solidly founded on the colossal work done in the early part of last season.'At the beginning of last year, I went back on the water and into training very early, during January and February in Port la Foret. We did a huge amount of work on performance: rig adjustments, sails, lots of things we'd never really tried before.' A solid technical foundation that is still relevant today. 'The boat is ready to go, there's nothing too much to redo or try, now most of the work is on the Sailor!'
Reaching peak performance at the right time
The return to the water just a few days ago was methodical, clear-headed and enjoyable. 'I'm so happy to be back in business,' he says, without hiding the fact that it's a gradual comeback. 'I'm a little rusty after the winter break, but it's encouraging how quickly it comes back to you, just like riding a bicycle...' The boat speed is a definitive positive. All that remains is to fine-tune certain aspects, particularly physical ones. 'I'm a little short on cardio and have a few kilos to shed, but these are good problems to have and easy to fix.' This gradual build up fits perfectly into a busy and demanding 2026 schedule: the Solo Guy Cotten - Concarneau (6-14 March), The Banque Populaire Grand Ouest Trophy (15-25 April), and then very quickly the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec, from 13 May to 7 June. "The fact that the Solitaire du Figaro is coming up early this year is a good thing for me. I know the boat, it is perfectly prepared, I know the event, I just need to get into peak form by the time it comes around. And of course, to enjoy what may very well be my last Figaro".
A star-studded fleet
This time round, the competition promises to be particularly fierce. Yoann Richomme, runner-up in the last Vendée Globe, Nicolas Lunven, two-time winner of the Solitaire du Figaro, and Nicolas Troussel, recent record holder of the Jules Verne Trophy alongside Thomas Coville, are raising the bar even higher. It's a situation that Dolan welcomes with enthusiasm. 'It's really exciting, really great. Seeing all these big names coming back gives me a hell of a lot of motivation.' Winner of the Solitaire du Figaro in 2024, the Flying Irishman, as he is nicknamed, moves forward with humility as always, true to his temperament. 'I want to confirm that I'm here and I'm here to stay, to think about the present and enjoy it.' Like Rocky in the ring, Tom Dolan promises only one thing: to fight to the end, with humility, determination and a fierce desire to once again take his place at the top of the fleet while enjoying every moment of it.