The pressure is mounting for the 35 skippers

thomashowson2
7 hours ago
3 min read

The weeks go by, and in 10 days, the village for the 56th edition of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec will open its doors in Rouen, the starting city for the 35 solo sailors competing this year. From August 30th to September 5th, Rouen will once again host the grand start of a race that celebrates its 56th anniversary this year. This new edition should allow the sailors to express themselves on challenging courses along the magnificent Normandy, Breton, and Spanish coasts, with legendary crossing points such as Fastnet Rock, Pointe du Raz, and Cape Finisterre.

Everyone is champing at the bit. While this summer period seems more conducive to relaxation, solo mode is already underway in the minds of the 35 sailors who will be setting sail for the 56th edition of the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec on September 7th. The Figaros are already in the water, some are training on them, others are working to perfect their preparation on other boats, but the goal of this season is indeed this unmissable event that will fuel debate and arouse all sorts of desire.

The city of Rouen celebrates

Starting Saturday, August 30th, the 35 skippers of this new 2025 edition of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec will be in Rouen for a magnificent celebration along the banks of the Seine. After sailing up the river from Le Havre, at 8:50 p.m., once the Flaubert Bridge has lifted its deck, the sailors will take their places for 6 days of festivities, entertainment, and meetings with the public.

The city of Rouen will once again be at the heart of the race. Key events are already planned, such as the official inauguration of the village, which will take place on Sunday, August 31 at 2:30 p.m. This will be followed by the grand presentation of the skippers, certainly the most eagerly awaited moment for the public, at 3:30 p.m.

Every day, starting Monday, September 1st, book signing sessions will be held between the sailors and the public. This is always a special exchange that allows young and old to share a moment with these extraordinary sailors. (link to the website program).

The La Solitaire journal, hosted by Serge Herbin, will be held every day with numerous guests who will provide their perspective and analysis on this race, which is an integral part of French maritime heritage.

In addition to the many sailing and sea-themed activities, the highlight of this festive week will be the skippers' grand departure on Friday, September 5, starting at 12:30 p.m. After a long descent of the Seine, along the meanders of the river, it is in Le Havre that the sailors will moor for a final day of briefings and checks, and finally set off for the first of the three stages of this 56th edition of the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec.

35 solo players for one title

For three weeks, over three legs with a total length of 1,850 miles, 35 sailors, including 13 rookies, 8 women and 5 foreigners will compete on a challenging course, the fruit of the reflection of race director Yann Château. Between the difficulty of the English Channel, the almost offshore course and the formidable rounding of the tip of Brittany, the mix of genres will offer the skippers a plethora of options to shine and hope to widen the gap to rank well in the general classification. Winner in 2024, Tom Dolan (Kingspan) starts with a very special status, that of favorite, but many sailors hope to attach their name to this race where legends are born, like Alexis Loison (Groupe REEL), recent winner of the Fastnet Race, Charlotte Yven (Skipper MACIF 2023) who would like to become the first woman to win this event. While a few skippers, key players in the 2024 edition, have moved on to other boats, the Top 10 remains very open, and the shape of this new edition should allow some to express themselves. The Solitaire du Figaro Paprec is won in real time, where every minute, every second is crucial for the overall ranking. You'll have to draw on your deepest abilities to win.