Figaro 3, a new racing boat
At the beginning of 2019, about fifty Figaro 3s were delivered to the owners. The replacement for the Figaro 2 is innovative and we must find the keys to performance.
Foils instead of ballasts, mainsail with horn, recoil mast, asymmetrical spinnaker, gennaker are all technical data that will determine a new way of sailing that runners are eager to acquire.
Navigation in a race pack
We boarded Tom Dolan's Figaro 3 Smurfit Kappa. He belongs to a group of riders who train within the framework of the Lorient Grand Large structure. To progress, there is nothing like collective emulation. Tanguy the Latin, the coach, the well understood and around him are some of the best skippers in the discipline.
Video: the best moments of this training
During the training, I was lucky enough to be able to alternate on board one of the Figaro and the coach's semi-ride. I suggest you relive this experience.
After a slightly missed start, we sail in a grouped fleet with fast reaching and upwind. This edge allows us to go offshore before lifting the spis. We're rounding the island of Groix from the south downwind, with a tight drop.
During long slides, the leaders of the discipline make the foam smoke. The monotypes seem to be flying. Aboard Tom Dolan's Figaro 3 it's leuphoria, at over 15 knots the boat is stable and powerful. We feel that the regattas will be exceptional and that there will be a lot of fun to make the foils sing at full speed.
High speed piloting
We observe the high-speed piloting technique. Caudrelier, Delahaye, Mahé, Ruyant, Hardy express their know-how.
When sailing downwind, there is no discomfort with the foil. On the contrary, it seems to stabilize the boat and you can feel that there is a margin before leaving for the heap. In the slow motion of the video, we observe the role and behaviour of the foil downwind: the faster the boat accelerates, the more effective it is.
The smoothness of the bar and the precision are remarkable. The stiffness of the whole allows a good transmission of the direction and we place the boat as we want on the wave.
As the images show, the Figaro3 go fast, very fast even.
On some races of the season, we will probably see hourly averages of more than 15 knots.
The events on the Figaro 2019 circuit will be exciting. I can't wait for the first confirmations. And be careful, there is only one month left before the first regatta of the season, the Sardinha Cup.
