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An edition marked by an unprecedented river departure
The opening of the village in Rouen on August 30, 2025 will feature a special logistical configuration: the fleet will travel down the Seine to the estuary. The passage of the Flaubert Bridge, whose deck will be raised to allow the yachts to pass, marks a symbolic milestone. A departure from an inland town implies specific technical constraints: tide management, river navigation safety, reinforced supervision to ensure the cohabitation of competition units and local traffic.
A demanding route between the English Channel, the Atlantic and mythical capes
For 2025, race director Yann Château is proposing a route of 1,850 miles in three legs. Competitors will have to deal with the English Channel and its powerful currents, negotiate the Pointe du Raz and confront the North Atlantic by rounding the Fastnet Rock. Cape Finisterre, a strategic passage in Galicia, will serve as the judge of their chances of breaking away from the pack. This mix of coastal and offshore navigation means that sailors must be constantly vigilant with regard to the weather and local effects, making each option a decisive one.
Figaro Beneteau 3: fairness through one-design
All competitors sail on the same boat, the Figaro Beneteau 3, a 10.85 m one-design foiling yacht. This boat, launched in 2019, imposes total sporting fairness. The differences lie in the preparation of the sails and the skipper's ability to exploit the fine tuning. The Figaro 3, renowned for its demanding upwind sailing and delicate weather transitions, is a real test of the technical qualities and physical stamina of its sailors.
A diverse line-up of favorites and newcomers
This edition brings together 35 skippers, including 13 rookies, 8 women and 5 foreign sailors. The holder of the 2024 title, Ireland's Tom Dolan, sets off with the status of favorite. Challengers include Alexis Loison, recent winner of the Fastnet Race, and Charlotte Yven, who is aiming to become the first woman to add her name to the list of winners. The diversity of the field illustrates the formative role of the Solitaire, a veritable crucible for the rising generations of ocean racers.
A training race that became an offshore legend
Created in 1970 as the Course de l'Aurore, the Solitaire du Figaro celebrates its 55th anniversary in 2025. It has produced a number of sailors who have become ocean racing benchmarks: Michel Desjoyeaux, Armel Le Cléac'h, Jérémie Beyou, among others. Sailed in real time, there's no room for error: every minute counts towards the overall ranking. This rigor makes it an inescapable school, where skippers learn to sail alone in the face of weather, currents and their own limits.
