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It?s a powerful symbol. For more than half a century, the Solitaire was built around a one-design class where the sailor made far more of a difference than the equipment. Generations of skippers honed their skills there before moving on to the biggest ocean races. This training ground for excellence has shaped a significant part of French offshore racing.
However, it would be an oversimplification to view this announcement as the end of the Figaro. The Figaro Beneteau 3 fleet is not disappearing. Quite the contrary. Under the leadership of the Figaro Beneteau Class and the French Sailing Federation, a solo championship will continue to develop. The boats, the crews, and the training program remain firmly in place. What is changing is the organizer of the major solo race and the platform it has chosen to host the event.
And we must also acknowledge a reality. Today, the Ocean Fifty is undoubtedly the best offshore racing platform for providing visibility to partners. These trimarans combine speed, spectacular imagery, and proximity to the public thanks to accessible port calls, all at operating costs that are incomparable to those of the Ultim or IMOCA classes. For an organizer looking to boost the media appeal of their event, this choice makes perfect sense.
That is precisely where the debate arises. Almost no one disputes the qualities of the Ocean Fifty. The race series is well-organized, and the boats are reliable, though a bit unpredictable. The issue has more to do with the identity of the Solitaire than with the performance of the boat class.
This decision pits two visions against each other. One view holds that a race must evolve to remain visible and attract sponsors, local governments, and broadcasters. The other points out that certain races draw their strength from their history and uniqueness. For 55 years, the Solitaire du Figaro was inextricably linked to its one-design class. Starting in 2028, that link will be severed.
Ultimately, this controversy is less about the disappearance of a boat than about the evolution of French offshore racing. Today, every class is seeking its own economic balance, its place on the calendar, and its media exposure. In this context, OC Sport has chosen to turn a new page with the Ocean Fifty. The Figaro Beneteau Class and the French Sailing Federation, for their part, have chosen to continue the history of the one-design class. And they may well emerge stronger as a result.
This decision is neither absurd nor illegitimate. It reflects the current realities of offshore racing. But it marks a break with half a century of history. The Solitaire du Figaro will no longer be the race that reveals the future greats of the sport on a strictly level playing field. It is becoming the premier solo race on an already established circuit.
The Figaro program, for its part, will continue to exist thanks to the Figaro Beneteau Class and the French Sailing Federation. Young sailors will still have a championship where they can learn the ropes. But the split is now official. On one side, a training program. On the other, a competition that is changing its boat class, its audience, and, above all, its purpose.
History will no doubt remember 2028 not only as the year the Solitaire switched to a new boat, but also as the year it changed its identity.
