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A journey in 3 original stages
The 55th edition of the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec will take place over new 3-stage regattas from August 17 to September 15, 2024. For the first time, the start will be from Rouen, where the race village was inaugurated on August 17. The 1,840-mile course will take sailors from Rouen in Seine-Maritime to La Turballe in Loire-Atlantique, via Gijón in Spain and Royan in Charente-Maritime. This varied playground, with a stopover abroad, will enable Figaro racers to alternate between coastal and offshore events, over legs of around 600 miles each.
615 miles between Rouen and Gijon
After a week in Rouen, competitors will sail down the Seine to Le Havre on Friday August 23. The start of this first 615-mile leg will be given on August 25 in the Bay of Seine, for a coastal course requiring vigilance. They'll have to deal with the currents, as well as the heavy traffic in the English Channel. The solo sailors will head for the Wolf Rock lighthouse, located to the west of English Cornwall, before setting off on a 400-mile ocean crossing to Gijon. The finish in the Spanish city hosting the race for the 14th time is scheduled for August 29.
605 miles from Gijon to Royan
After a few days' rest, the sailors will make a second crossing of the Bay of Biscay to reach Royan, the host town for the second time. Departure is scheduled for September 1. Weather permitting, they will have to seek out a special marker after Cape Finisterre, starting this second leg with a very coastal course. The second part, without waypoint, will be open and competitors are expected in Royan on September 5.
620 miles between Royan and La Turballe
The final leg of the Solitaire du Figaro will once again take place in the Loire-Atlantique region, but with a new port of arrival, La Turballe. Leaving Royan on September 8, the Figaro racers will head for England, passing off the Occidentale de Sein. They will then have two options: to round Ushant via the Fromveur Passage or the Four. They will then have to pass the Skerries Bank mark, located to the east of Star Point, before returning to the tip of Brittany by September 12.
New for 2024: the Paprec Challenge on stage 1
8 duos will start the Défi Paprec in Rouen at 3:15pm, 15 minutes after the Solitaire du Figaro competitors. Although they will complete the same course - only that of the first leg - they will benefit from a specific ranking. The aim of this initiative is to attract and train a new generation of Figaro Bénéteau 3 skippers, discover new talent and gain experience in double-handed offshore racing.
37 sailors ready for action...
A total of 37 racers will be taking part in this latest edition of the Solitaire du Figaro. Of course, we'll be seeing some of the big names, such as Alexis Loison - 18th entry - Martin Le Pape - 8th entry, Tom Dolan - 7th entry and Elodie Bonafous - 5th entry, but also some new blood, as 15 newcomers will be trying out the race, including Quentin Vlamynck, discovered in the Ocean Fifty class, and Stéphane Le Diraison, competing in the IMOCA class.
To conclude on the numbers, 4 foreigners and 8 women are in the line-up.
