The solo sailors refuse to give up, while the experienced racers lead the fleet
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
There is no respite on the La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec. More than 24 hours after the start, the 35 solo sailors still racing — with Marin Carnot (Fondation Jérôme Lejeune) having dismasted near Wolf Rock — are battling upwind toward the tip of Brittany and the traffic separation scheme they must absolutely avoid crossing, under penalty of sanctions.
Since 3:00 p.m. this Monday, Nicolas Lunven (PRB) has taken the lead in the standings, confirming his excellent start to the race. In second place, Tom Dolan (Kingspan), winner of the 2024 edition, was being shadowed closely by Loïs Berrehar (Banque Populaire). In 2024, the two men finished first and second respectively in La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec. There is no doubt that Loïs is eager for revenge and will throw all his energy into this battle. Few strategic options remain at this stage. The fleet is now spread over 10 nautical miles, with everyone holding firm at their own pace.
The arrival of a few sunny spells should slightly lift the skippers’ spirits. However, the upcoming weather conditions will offer them little relief. The sailors will have to continue sailing upwind as efficiently as possible in seas that will keep building while the wind steadily strengthens. They will need to stay vigilant and, above all, never give up. Because this race against the clock is relentless. Every second lost is extremely difficult to recover.
Meanwhile, the trimaran Express is still accompanying the Figaro Beneteau 3 of Marin Carnot (Fondation Jérôme Lejeune) across the English Channel. The young rookie suffered a dismasting this morning near Wolf Rock. He is expected to reach the Brest channel this evening so that the shore team can take charge of the boat, which is without engine power.
“I had problems in the mast around one of the spreaders. I went up once and tried to secure everything, but it didn’t hold. As I reached Wolf Rock, I tacked and the mast came down. I’m really devastated because it means a huge amount of time and resources will be needed to get me out of here,” Marin Carnot briefly explained over VHF radio.
La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec is unforgiving; it lets nothing slide. Whether technically or mentally, the slightest weakness can lead to complications. Only the skippers who manage to navigate through all these challenges unscathed will be able to hope for a strong performance. But the road ahead is still long and full of obstacles. “Never give up” seems to be the motto for many of them, although reality at sea can sometimes tell a different story.
To follow the sailors’ progress, head to the race tracker.
