La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec Leg 2 - Day 4
by La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec 27 May 09:39 PDT
13 May - 7 June 2026
The rookies strike back
When she started the second leg of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec from Vigo last Sunday, Marie Gendron (Kereis SNCF Voyageurs) would have signed up straight away to be leading the fleet. But she knows all too well that, until the finish line has been crossed, victory can still slip away. For now, there is still a long way to go to reach Pornichet, especially as the weather conditions in the area are certainly not making progress any easier for the Figaro sailors. They are all eagerly awaiting the wind shift to the east, a shift that will allow them to set their strategy for the rest of the leg.
Thanks to strong positioning and determination, Marie Gendron, skipper of the Figaro Kereis SNCF Voyageurs, is sailing an excellent leg. The rookie is leading the fleet in light airs - conditions she loves. "I feel at home in these conditions; I love light airs. I came to La Solitaire for close racing, so I'm really happy things are going this way," said Marie Gendron.
Behind the sailor from Nantes, the chase is taking shape. The highly experienced Adrien Hardy on Sans Nature, pas de Futur! is not far behind, as is Paul Loiseau on Région Bretagne - CMB Espoir. With two rookies in the top three, this leg is shaping up nicely and, with the fleet spread out, no one has really managed to break away. Also worth noting is the excellent fourth place held by Ellie Driver on STEM on the Startline, positioned in the middle of the fleet. Once the shift arrives, a few changes are expected. Everyone still has a real chance, and this penultimate day at sea promises some thrilling battles.
Delicacy and precision
Out on the water, the sailors are trying to hold on to the little speed they have managed to generate in the gusts. Passing alongside them, it is amusing to see that the movements and manoeuvres of the solo sailors are as measured as the wind itself. There is no rush in their gestures; everything is calculated, even their words are gentle.
It is almost as if the slightest mistake could have dramatic consequences. "There isn't much wind, but the sea is calm. There are two or three knots, but we're managing to glide along nicely. You can lose speed very quickly and the boat can come to a stop, but once you're well trimmed, the boat moves along well. The goal is to stay focused so the boat can keep its momentum," explained Thomas de Dinechin on Almond for Pure Ocean.
The sails are barely filled on the Figaro Beneteau 3s. But they are moving, and in the right direction. While concentration is essential, the sailors have not forgotten about comfort on board. Having taken a battering since the start, they are all trying to dry out their interiors and personal belongings. "I ran the engine to dry out the inside of the boat, and even the spinnaker, which was soaked. I had excess water, so I also took the opportunity to have a good shampoo — it also helps me lighten the boat a little!" said Chloé Le Bars (Skipper Macif 2026).
Words from the sailors
Ellie Driver - STEM on the Startline: "I'm really pleased with what I'm managing to do on the water, but I'm staying focused because what comes next won't be easy. We'll have to work hard through the transitions."
Laure Galley - Hauterive: "We're right in the thick of it. Yesterday, we had a fairly established wind, and then overnight there started to be some proper patches of calm. But the wind always ended up coming back in again from the west, and then this morning it began to come in from the northwest. The idea is to try to catch wind from the opposite direction. It's not necessarily easy to know exactly where we stand in relation to the weather situation. The files are starting to get a bit old, but we have to be patient, try to move forward with the wind we have, and above all stay with the right group."
Chloé Le Bars - Skipper Macif 2026: "I'm doing well. I'm happy there's some sunshine, and I think - and hope - that we're on the right side for the next shift. I hope it works out. I'm pretty tired, though, so I'm trying to take quite a few little naps. I had a few problems one after another during the nights and didn't sleep very well, so I'm trying to recover as best I can. You still have to stay very focused; the boat can slow down very quickly."
Thomas de Dinechin - Almond for Pure Ocean: "The night was a bit damp, but now the weather is nice and dry, so that feels good. I'm more in the group that was on the right, and since yesterday we've seen things keep shifting: one moment the left-hand group moves ahead, then the right-hand group. It's a bit of a yo-yo for now, but we're staying calm, and I think quite a lot can still happen before we reach Pornichet.
What comes next is complicated weather-wise, but I don't think the forecasts are reliable at all. The models are struggling to understand what's happening. The idea for the rest of the leg is really to sail my own course, stay opportunistic, and take the wind as it comes. It's also about sailing the shortest possible route amid the uncertainty and doing what we call a 'making tack', but right now I feel like we're not going to be very much in control of our own destiny."
To follow the evolution of conditions on the racecourse, find the race weather bulletins produced by our partner Météo Consult on the Figaro Nautisme website.
To follow the sailors' progress, head to the race tracker: www.lasolitaire.com/cartographie