/ 
After an engaging first leg, the skippers of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec changed their tune completely on this second leg between Vigo and Pornichet. Here, pure speed takes a back seat. The race should be decided above all by the sailors' ability to read the weather transitions, maintain their lucidity and keep the boat moving in unstable winds.
Unstable weather already complicating tactical choices
As soon as they left the ria de Vigo, the fleet was confronted with light and very irregular winds. Adrien Hardy, skipper of Sans Nature, pas de Futur! tacked into the lead at the Paprec buoy after the coastal course. But behind him, several competitors were already trapped in windless zones.
The weather scenario remains particularly tricky to interpret. Several lows are circulating off the Spanish coast, accompanied by localized thunderstorms and strong pressure variations. Under these conditions, routing quickly becomes unreliable.
Pierrick Letouzé, skipper of Normandy Offshore Program, summed up the situation before the start: " There aren't many files that agree. It's hard to place phenomena."
Why calms remain one of the most difficult exercises on a Figaro
Light airs have a special reputation on La Solitaire. In contrast to the tough stages, where the gaps sometimes stabilize quickly, light conditions keep the uncertainty alive for several days.
In less than 6 knots of wind, the Figaro requires extremely fine handling. Permanent adjustments, weight placement, maintaining speed during relaunches - every detail is crucial.
And mental fatigue increases rapidly. Marie Gendron, skipper of Kereis SNCF Voyageurs, explained this before leaving Vigo: " The wind is only going to change. I think we're going to get slammed when we get home. Not so much physical fatigue, but mental fatigue."
These stages also impose complicated sleep choices. Sailors don't get much sleep, as wind changes mean they have to keep a constant eye on the water. A misplaced nap can be enough to let the right group go.
Cape Finisterre and Bay of Biscay under surveillance
The first tactical hurdle is the passage around Cape Finisterre. Competitors will have to choose between several trajectories, either close to the Spanish coast, or further offshore to avoid certain storm zones.
Léo Bothorel, Decathlon skipper, has already evoked this dilemma: " We have two main options, either to stay on the coast or to go further out to sea"
This zone is historically a trap for La Solitaire. Relief effects, thermal accelerations and coastal calms can upset the hierarchy in a matter of hours.
Then comes the Bay of Biscay, often dreaded in light weather scenarios. Weather models differ widely on the evolution of the lows expected on Monday May 25, 2026 and Tuesday May 26, 2026. Some skippers are already talking about an "erratic" leg, with positions constantly changing.
Hugo Dhallenne, Macif 2025 skipper, sums up the general mood well: " We'll have to keep our eyes open and remain opportunistic. "
A stage that can already redistribute the overall standings
Provisional leader after the first leg, Ireland's Tom Dolan knows that this round can quickly reshuffle the cards. On this type of slow, tactical course, the gaps at the finish can be considerable, despite low average speeds.
Several skippers also point to the highly unpredictable nature of this crossing. Thomas de Dinechin, who is behind in the overall rankings, sees this weather as an opportunity to come back I think there could be time gaps at the finish"
This second leg also reminds us of a constant in the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec. Sailors never sail only against their rivals. They also have to deal with their own stress, doubts and fatigue.
And in calms, these parameters often become as important as boat speed.
