Solitaire du Figaro 2021, 34 skippers ready to battle it out over a 2,400-mile course

The start of the Solitaire du Figaro will be given on August 22, 2021 over a course of 2,4000 miles spread over 4 stopovers. The organization has just announced the skippers who will participate.

Chloé Torterat Published on July 22, 2021

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! "

Parcours de la Solitaire du Figaro 2021 — Course of the Solitaire du Figaro 2021

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.