One day to go before the start of the second leg of the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec

Tomorrow, Sunday, May 24th, 36 solo sailors will once again set off on a sprint that could well resemble a long, arduous journey. Light weather conditions along the Iberian coast and in the Bay of Biscay will once again complicate matters for the sailors. The race will start at 4:00 PM from the Vigo estuary, heading towards Pornichet, the finish line of this second leg. With 450 nautical miles to cover in shifty and inconsistent winds, the suspense is likely to be palpable right up to the finish line in Loire-Atlantique.

@Vincent Olivaud

This new leg, which promises to be the shortest of this 57th edition of the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec, is nevertheless likely to complicate matters considerably for the sailors on the water. The situation in the area remains very unstable and not conducive to excessive speeds. Patience and formidable tenacity will be essential to overcome the numerous pitfalls that litter the course. The Galician coast, renowned for its complex weather forecasts, will once again add spice and suspense to the first hours of sailing. Between the effects of the coastline and the variations in thermals due to the rugged terrain inland, the sailors are already hard at work trying to best analyze the strategy to implement. The Météo Consult briefing for the skippers this Saturday will undoubtedly be a key moment in this analysis.

@Vincent Olivaud

Yann Chateau, Race Director of the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec, analyzes: “We expect significant air mass instability at the start. We're hoping for a small westerly thermal flow, which is present in quite a few models. It's also very likely that we'll encounter small storm cells that could disrupt the wind. If all goes well, we'll set off at 4 pm from the Vigo estuary, from the head of the estuary. The coastal leg should take between 1 hour 20 minutes and 1 hour 30 minutes until the entrance to the estuary, where the skippers will head upwind. The spectacle should be magnificent, just like last year. Then, a passage up the coast of Galicia, mostly with rather light winds and fairly slow progress. And then a crossing of the Bay of Biscay, which should be done with a northeasterly wind evolving towards the end of the course, although not all the models are entirely consistent. The leg will be short in distance but probably long in time.”

Is this a leg with a profile that allows for different tactics and choices? “It’s certain that from the very first night, we’ll also have to think beyond the weather models, beyond the classic scenarios, because there will be many effects due to the terrain of Spain, many effects due to thermal phenomena, whether diurnal or nocturnal. I think the course should be really interesting. We could see a fleet that spreads out a little more than on the first leg. It’s possible that on the second leg the skippers will take a few more options with a few more gaps in the fleet ,” analyzed Yann Chateau.

Stay the course to avoid punishment

On this kind of leg, the skippers are all too aware that rankings can change in the blink of an eye. Two years ago, Tom Dolan managed to break away along the Spanish coast and build his eventual victory there. However, they can't afford to let their guard down, because sometimes just a few meters away, a stronger wind gust can allow them to pull away and create a gap that's difficult to close. Katabatic winds could well be a saving grace for some, but only if they can identify them correctly.

Nothing is decided yet, everything remains to be done, and the Bay of Biscay will once again be the stage for magnificent nautical battles between the 36 skippers. Nevertheless, this invigorating stopover in Vigo has given the sailors a good energy boost for the rest of the competition.

Head to the first buoy!

@Vincent Olivaud

Marin Carnot returns to competition on Fondation Jérôme Lejeune

We last saw him in Brest after a lightning-fast tow across the English Channel, and following a technical stopover managed at breakneck speed by his team, Martin Carnot achieved the unthinkable: reaching Vigo in time to start the second leg. “I’ve been through quite a few emotional phases over the past week. I didn’t think I’d be back in time for Vigo; I was leaning more towards Pornichet, but an incredible chain of support kicked in. We managed to find a mast that was stored at Iroise Gréement in Brest. After a fair bit of work reinstalling the electronics, spreaders, and mastheads, we were able to get everything back in place. The delivery trip was a bit long and under power. Now I need to rest to get back into race mode. I’ve spent so much time putting this project together, finding sponsors, and doing everything I could to be at the starting line that it couldn’t just end like this.” I'm so happy to be back and I can't wait to go.

How to follow the start of the second leg: Official start 4:00 PM. From 3:25 PM you can follow the start of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec on the race website, letelegramme.fr , Ouest-France.fr , and on replay on TF1+ and Canal+. On TV on Figaro TV and Tébéo/Tébésud. On social media: La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec Facebook page. On La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec YouTube channel.