A demanding course without foreign stops
The 52nd edition of the Solitaire du Figaro will take place on August 22, 2021, starting and finishing in Saint-Nazaire, after stopovers in Brittany and Normandy. For the first time, the race will not include any foreign stopovers. (Re) Discover the 2,400-mile route that the skippers will follow.
On the program, 4 demanding stages with stopovers in Saint-Nazaire, Lorient, Fécamp, Baie de Morlaix and renowned stopping points in La Coruña (stage 1), the Isle of Wight and Saint Gowen (stage 3) as well as the Isles of Scilly and the Fastnet lighthouse (stage 4)
"The course will certainly increase the suspense, says Francis Le Goff . If stage 2 is tough, the others force you to keep a good rhythm for a long time, to try to have a good average over the long time. This is what will make the race more attractive! "
34 skippers, 12 rookies, 5 women sailors
Thirty-four skippers will set out to tackle this demanding race, which is an essential step in an ocean racing career. That's one less than in 2020. Among them, 12 newcomers, who will try the experience for the first time, proof of the attractiveness of the Solitaire du Figaro. However, this figure has yet to be confirmed; the result will be known at the end of the Solo Concarneau. The rookies will fight to win the Eric Ingouf trophy, dedicated to the "novice" classification of the race.
" Some of the newcomers have to finish it to qualify for the Solitaire du Figaro, explains Francis Le Goff, the race director . It was not easy for them to qualify, because there were many more races in doubles this season than in solo ."
Five former stage winners will also be present: Fabien Delahaye, Éric Peron, Alexis Loison, Gildas Mahé and Xavier Macaire, but no race winner. Finally, 5 women sailors will also take the start, proof of the diversity of the Figaro Bénéteau class.
In total, 8 nationalities will be represented; these sailors will compete for the Vivi Trophy, rewarding the best foreign skipper.
List of skippers
Elodie Bonafous - Bretagne CMB Océane
Francesca Clapcich - Fearless - State street marathon sailing
Damien Cloarec - Saferail
Pep Costa - CYBELE HOLIDAY TEAM PLAY TO B
Fabien Delahaye - Gilbert Group
Jules Delpech - ORCOM
Tom Dolan - Smurfit kappa - kingspan
Violette Dorange - Becoming
Maël Garnier - Ageas team - Saint-Brieuc bay
Estelle Greck - Respimer
Philippe Hartz - French Navy - Foundation of the Sea
Corentin Horeau - Blue Mutual for the Institut curie
Arthur Hubert - MonAtoutenergie.fr
Jesse Fielding Opportunity - state street marathon sailing
Tom Laperche - Bretagne cmb performance
Erwan Le Draoulec - Skipper Macif 2020
Martin Le Pape - Let's keep the view
Tanguy Le Turquais - Queguiner Innovéo
Pierre Leboucher GUYOT Environment - Pink Ribbon
Alexis Loison - Normandy Region
Xavier Macaire - Team SNEF
Gildas Mahe - Breizh Cola
Marc Mallaret - LOOKING FOR SPONSORS
Robin Marais - My luck too
Benoît Mariette - Seniors' Generation
Gaston Morvan - Bretagne cmb espoir
Achille Nebout - Primero energie - Amarris
Nils Palmieri - TeamWork
David Paul - Just a drop
Eric Peron - French Touch
Pierre Quiroga - Skipper Macif 2019
Alan Roberts - Seacat Services
Alexis Thomas - La Charente Maritime
Charlotte Yven - Team Vendée Formation
