57th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec - Tom Dolan (Kingspan) Claims Victory in Vigo in Style
by La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec 21 May 03:54 PDT
13 May - 7 June 2026
Two years after his first victory in La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec, Irish sailor Tom Dolan aboard Kingspan wins the opening stage*. Everything came together this morning to deliver the perfect finish from the sea.
Bathed in the first rays of sunlight just cresting the heights of Cape Finisterre, Tom Dolan finally savoured his return to the top step of the podium. It took him 3 days, 20 hours, 21 minutes, and 36 seconds. Loïs Berrehar (Banque Populaire) and Paul Morvan (Foricher - French Touch) complete the podium*.
This opening stage proved highly demanding for the skippers, who will now have just over 48 hours to recover and switch back into race mode before tackling the second leg toward Pornichet.
The Irishman's Acceleration
It was around 10:30 p.m. last night that Tom Dolan made his decisive move. He positioned himself strategically north of a group of Figaro sailors including Loïs Berrehar (Banque Populaire), Nicolas Lunven (PRB), Paul Morvan (Foricher - French Touch), Alexis Thomas (Wings of the Ocean), and Victor Mathieu (Elitys). His incredible boat speed did the rest. Hour after hour, and update after update, he kept accelerating, building enough of a gap to control his rivals. It was a true masterclass in sailing.
It is worth remembering that during the first stage in 2025, Tom Dolan injured his wrist — an injury that forced him to retire during the second stage in Vigo. A painful memory now erased by this revenge-flavoured victory. "I had very bad memories of Vigo. I definitely didn't see myself coming here on holiday! This victory makes me feel a lot better about the place. I've just taken a great revenge," said Tom Dolan a few minutes after crossing the finish line.
The Podium
Behind him, Loïs Berrehar (Banque Populaire) could do little against Tom Dolan's pace, but still delivered a magnificent race and was one of the main protagonists throughout the stage. Finishing 37 minutes and 34 seconds behind, he will certainly be eager for revenge. In 2024, Loïs had won two of the three stages but ultimately lost overall victory in La Solitaire, allowing Tom Dolan to step onto the top podium spot. Two years later, the two men continue to add to the legend of the race.
The Banque Populaire skipper's instinctive feel and hunger for racing are undeniable. The rest of the competition promises to be exciting. "It was an incredible stage, very intense and difficult. Tom was unbelievably good, but that's going to have to stop. La Solitaire is still long, and I fully intend to go after it," commented Loïs Berrehar after crossing the line at Cape Finisterre.
Finishing third in this opening stage, Paul Morvan (Foricher - French Touch) secured an excellent result. After this first leg, he trails Tom Dolan by 40 minutes and 54 seconds, and Loïs Berrehar by 3 minutes and 20 seconds. It is a superb performance for Paul Morvan, who claims his very first podium finish. "There was real adrenaline at the end. I managed to rest well before attacking that final stretch. I'm really happy with this result," said Paul Morvan after finishing.
The Veterans Deliver
Throughout the morning, under the watchful eye of the Cape Finisterre lighthouse, the arrivals kept coming. Martin Le Pape (Paprec) and Nicolas Lunven (PRB) rounded out the Top 5*. Their performances on this first stage command great respect. The veterans once again managed to tame this incredible racing machine and bring it to the front of the fleet.
It was a beautiful lesson in seamanship, proving that experience accumulated over the years does not fade so easily. Between them, the two sailors have nineteen participations in the race. They finished respectively 50 minutes and 18 seconds, and 52 minutes and 59 seconds behind leader Tom Dolan. In La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec, nothing is ever decided, and many situations have been overturned before.
Best Rookie
First among the rookies, Paul Loiseau finished seventh overall*, 1 hour, 28 minutes, and 16 seconds behind Tom Dolan. Sailing for Région Bretagne - CMB Espoir, he made a strong statement right from the start and will certainly be one to watch during the next two stages.
Paul Cousin, representing Normandy, sits ninth* at 1 hour, 42 minutes, and 13 seconds behind the leader. These are two names likely to leave their mark on future stages and editions of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec. These young sailors race with an impressive combination of freedom and professionalism, proving in their very first participation that they are forces to be reckoned with and future stars of the event. "This stage was an incredible initiation. We really had to fight for it — it was super intense. I'm very happy with this first race and four days at sea. It was exactly what I came for, and on top of that there was performance too. I absolutely loved it," said young Paul Loiseau.
Vivi Trophy
The Vivi Trophy rewards the first foreign sailor across the line. Unsurprisingly, Irishman Tom Dolan, overall winner of the stage, also claimed the Vivi Trophy. His previous victory in this trophy dates back to 2024, when he crossed the finish line first in Royan.
Défi Paprec
The young sailors from Figaro Auray Quiberon by Orlabay have talent in abundance. Thomas Dinas and Eliott Covillebrilliantly succeeded in their ambitious challenge of entering — and winning — the Défi Paprec. The initiative offers sailors the opportunity to experience offshore racing alongside competitors from La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec.
This stepping stone to La Solitaire inspires future vocations, and these two skippers are certain to develop a taste for victory quickly. Thomas Dinas and Eliott Coville finished ahead of Jens Meiser and Oakley Marsh aboard Chipmunk, who placed second. Former ski champion Ivica Kostelic, sailing with Deniz Bagci aboard Amelicor, finished third, just 18 seconds behind second place (subject to jury decision).
Stage Profile
After a magnificent start off Perros-Guirec, the solo sailors quickly got down to business with a first crossing of the English Channel — upwind but relatively fast. After rounding Wolf Rock, a more demanding second crossing took them north of the Ouessant Traffic Separation Scheme.
Then came the long and punishing descent through the Bay of Biscay, which tested both body and mind. The fleet, still compact and moving quickly, was battered by the passing front that generated gusts up to 38 knots and seas reaching nearly 4 meters in places. Add constant humidity and biting cold, and the scene was set for the two gruelling days required to cross the gulf.
Approaching the Spanish coast then became a game of tacking duels to find openings in the high-pressure puzzle. Just after nightfall, perfectly positioned north of the leading pack, Tom Dolan launched an astonishing outside move, finding extra speed — at times sailing a full knot faster than his rivals — and breaking away.
The remainder was a succession of short tacks to make the most of local coastal effects. As each sailor crossed the finish line, their faces showed both relief and happiness at having finally conquered this long crossing. Rarely in the history of the race have solo sailors raced so far offshore. It was a unique offshore experience that forges sailors and provides invaluable experience for future success.
Because of increasingly uncertain weather conditions at the end of the course, Race Director Yann Chateau decided last night, via an amendment sent to competitors, to shorten the course. The final manoeuvrers approaching Cape Finisterre proved decisive in determining the winner. Thanks to sharp awareness and expertly executed tactics, Tom Dolan prevailed in truly impressive fashion.
The sailors are currently making their way toward Vigo, around fifty nautical miles from the finish line. They are expected to reach the Spanish port and pontoons by mid-afternoon.
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We hear from the winner
"A good start is half the battle" remarks a delighted Dolan. "The idea was to get west of the fleet as soon as I could and was kind off the overall idea of the whole race. Once I had positioned myself there everything came in, the shifts, the squalls, the gusts from the west just that little bit sooner than for everyone else.
"It's always really special to win a leg of the Figaro, especially after being forced to retire last year before making it to Vigo, having to get in the car and leave the boat behind, unable to continue racing, I really felt as if I was at rock bottom in my career. So being able to reach Vigo having settled the score is a big win for me.
"While I’m delighted with this result, it’s still all to play for and plenty more work to be done.”
The 36 boat fleet will depart for the 450 nautical mile leg to Pornichet, France on Sunday 24th May.