One day to go before the start of the 57th edition of the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec

You'll need to be a little earlier than usual to watch the start of the first stage of this legendary race which, every year, reveals great talents.

On Sunday May 17 at 10:30 a.m., the Côtes-d'Armor navigator Guirec Soudée will give the start of this new edition of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec.

There will be 36 sailors setting off from Perros-Guirec, alone.

This first leg between the Breton port and the city of Vigo in Spain should offer a multitude of weather conditions, with moderate winds from the start, the passage of a fairly active front from Monday, and a zone of calm as they approach Cape Finisterre. A perfect mix that will throw the entire fleet into the deep end from the very first hours of the race.

On the eve of the start of the 57th edition of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec, Yann Château presented a race which he already announces as demanding, strategic and particularly unpredictable.

Yann Château says the 57th Solitaire du Figaro Paprec is wide open.

“The first leg will immediately set the tone. After a planned start in the Bay of Perros-Guirec in good weather conditions, the skippers will embark on a spectacular course between the Sept-Îles archipelago and Ploumanac'h before heading towards the Wolf Rock lighthouse in southwest England. The competitors will then face a long offshore leg of over 430 miles towards Cape Finisterre in northwest Spain. We can expect the race to be quite open,” says Yann Château, who emphasizes the importance of strategic choices on this long stretch of the course. “A front is expected to pass through between Monday and Tuesday, while the finish remains very uncertain due to a lack of wind forecast as they approach the Spanish coast.”

The race director also mentioned the particularly intense preparation required of the sailors. With the starting village set up in a short period, the skippers had to quickly complete their technical and meteorological preparations. Despite this pressure, impatience is running high just hours before the start. "This edition, held in May, changes some of the usual benchmarks. With longer days than in September, the sailors benefit from one to two extra hours of daylight each day, a significant factor in a race known for being physically and mentally demanding."

An exceptional set

“While several well-known sailing figures are making a comeback and attracting more public attention, the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec remains, above all, a talent incubator. Many skippers who are still relatively unknown today will be the great sailors of tomorrow,” he asserts. While all the boats are ready to set sail, the sailors' focus is now on analyzing the weather, the cornerstone of this first leg. Cyrille Duchesne, a weather specialist for Météo Consult, shares his perspective on the profile of this first leg: “The start will take place in relatively favorable conditions, with a moderate west to northwest wind blowing between 12 and 15 knots. Perfect weather for a great spectacle from the very first hours of the race. But this lull will be short-lived. From Monday afternoon, the situation will deteriorate significantly with the arrival of an active weather system in the Atlantic. The sailors will have to contend with a particularly strong southwest flow accompanied by the passage of a very dynamic cold front.” Average winds are expected to reach 25 to 28 knots, with gusts close to 40 knots and a rough sea potentially generating waves of nearly three meters. These demanding conditions will require intense concentration and all the expertise of the skippers undertaking this crossing. Even after the front passes, the sea will remain challenging in the Bay of Biscay due to a significant swell expected to persist until Wednesday. As they sail down towards Spain, the wind will gradually weaken while remaining southwesterly. Then, in the final miles before Vigo, the competitors will enter an anticyclonic ridge, bringing light and variable winds. This configuration is conducive to significant gaps and reversals, transforming the end of the race into a true psychological battle. This leg therefore promises numerous twists and turns, with highly changeable weather conditions that could reshuffle the cards right up to the finish. This alternating weather pattern and the profile of the leg will take a heavy toll on the skippers' bodies.

Forced to leave the helm of his Figaro, Yoann Richomme shares his thoughts on this first stage.

"The main challenge should come when a front passes off Brest on Monday night into Tuesday, with winds expected between 25 and 30 knots. Sustained conditions, but considered more manageable than initially predicted. After this bout of strong winds, the sailors will have to contend with much more uncertain weather as they approach A Coruña and Vigo, where light winds could cause significant gaps in performance."

According to him, the main difficulty will lie in managing rest and maintaining focus, especially in a tactically very open final stretch. "It's the kind of leg full of traps," he summarizes, recalling how much the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec often hinges on details and experience.

Forced to stay ashore due to a rib injury, the skipper admits his frustration at not being at the start, while judging his decision reasonable given the physical demands of the event.

On the other hand, he expresses his confidence in Martin Le Pape, his replacement, whom he describes as "ready", "dynamic" and capable of achieving a great Solitaire provided he sails freely and without pressure.

Six duos to test themselves against the harshness of the circuit

A few minutes after the 36 Figaro sailors, the six duos competing in the Défi Paprec will set off in turn for this long 610-mile voyage to Spain. An experience that will remain etched in their memories and will certainly inspire many to pursue sailing. How to follow the start: From 9:55 am, you can follow the start of the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec on the race website, France 3 Bretagne, letelegramme.fr, Ouest-France.fr, and on replay on TF1+ and Canal+. On TV: Figaro TV and Tébéo/Tébésud. On social media: Facebook pages for La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec and France 3 Bretagne. On YouTube: La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec and France 3 Bretagne. On Instagram: with a live stream from the docks starting at 8:00 am and on the @lasolitairedufigaropaprec feed.