There will be more than 30 skippers taking the start of the Solitaire du Figaro on 30th August. In total, 1?830 miles divided into 4 legs, three of over 500 miles long and a final run of 24 hours to finish. Once again, Francis le Goff, race director, has favoured an open course, with few marks to round, so that everyone can establish their strategy.
Stage 1: a 642-mile round trip to Ireland
The solo sailors will set off from the Bay of Saint-Brieuc in the direction of Ireland. They will have to overtake Les Scilly and its DSTs in the west of English Cornwall, round the Fastnet lighthouse and return. Two options: pass offshore or inside the islands.
"The only course mark on this first long leg will be the Fastnet lighthouse to be left to starboard. The game remains wide open for the solo sailors from the outset, as each one will work out his or her tactical game according to the traps in the English Channel and Irish Sea" explains Francis Le Goff.
Stage 2: 497 miles to Dunkirk
"From Saint-Quay-Portrieux, the fleet will head for Wolf Rock lighthouse in the south-west of the tip of Cornwall, then will have to reach a course mark in front of Antifer lighthouse near Etretat before finishing in front of Dunkirk. It will be a stage where lucidity will be the nerve centre of the war over the last few miles" says Francis Le Goff.
Sailors will have to avoid the numerous DST, the traffic between Calais and Dover, but also the currents and sandbanks between Wolf Rock and the Alabaster coast.
Stage 3: 504 miles from Dunkirk to the Loire estuary
On this coastal route, you will have to juggle with headlands, currents, islands and rocks, but also with fishermen.
Stage 4: 183 miles in 24 hours between the islands
This last stage is a loop between the Ile d'Yeu and Belle-Île via the Ile de Groix before returning to Loire-Atlantique.
The dates of the 51st Solitaire du Figaro
- August 25: Convening of the boats in Saint-Quay-Portrieux
- August 30: Grand departure
- 2 September: ETA of Stage 1
- 6 September: Start of Stage 2
- 9 September: ETA for Stage 2 in Dunkirk
- 12 September: Start of Stage 3
- 16 September: ETA for Stage 3 in Loire-Atlantique
- 19 September: Start of Stage 4
- 20th September: Finish of Leg 4 - End of La Solitaire du Figaro 2020
