The Spanish port of Vigo will once again host the fleet of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec in 2026!
- thomashowson2
- 6 hours ago
- 4 min read
After Perros-Guirec , host of the start village on May 17th, another city on the route of the 2026 Solitaire du Figaro Paprec has been revealed, and a significant one at that. Indeed, the Spanish port of Vigo will once again be the starting point for the solo sailors after the first leg, which will take them along the northern coast of Brittany, through the Bay of Biscay, past Cape Finisterre, and to the Cíes Islands, marking the entrance to the Galician estuary. Building on the success of the stopover in 2025, the port of Vigo and the Pontevedra Provincial Council have chosen to welcome back the most demanding of solo one-design races, much to the delight of OC Sport Pen Duick, the organizing company, the Paprec Group, the title sponsor, and, of course, the sailors.
The year 2026, which has barely begun, is bringing its share of good news, starting with the announcement of Vigo as the first stopover city for the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec race. “It is a great joy for the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec to return to Vigo,” declares Julie Coutts, Managing Director of OC Sport Pen Duick. “ After last year’s success, when the city magnificently hosted the finish of the second leg and the start of the third, we were eager to renew this collaboration. Vigo, with its maritime culture and its gateway to the Atlantic, is an essential stopover, offering sailors a high-level technical challenge and a warm welcome. This return testifies to our strong connection with Spain, and I sincerely thank the Port of Vigo and the Deputación de Pontevedra for their confidence. Together, we will offer the skippers and the public a memorable event, combining sporting intensity and shared experiences.”
Vigo, a city facing the sea
Perros-Guirec to Vigo : this is the highly anticipated route for the first leg of the 2026 Solitaire du Figaro Paprec. From the Pink Granite Coast to the Cíes Islands, the competitors will be plunged right from the start into a tricky, intense, and thrilling regatta. With trajectories skimming the rocks, currents, local effects, and the need to manage both body and boat, no element will be missing from this event, which will not be a matter of chance and could see some competitors eliminated right from the opening stage. The first skippers are expected in Spanish waters on May 20th or 21st, after several days of what promises to be an epic battle.
The enthusiasm shown by the organizers is naturally shared by the hosts of the Spanish stopover. “The experience in Vigo during the previous edition in September 2025 demonstrated the enormous capacity of the city and province to host top-tier nautical events, both in terms of sporting achievement and organization and social impact,” confirms Luisa Sánchez, Vice-President of the Pontevedra Provincial Council. “ Vigo is a city oriented towards the sea, and its port has become a key tool for boosting sports tourism, a sector on which we have placed particular emphasis in the Pontevedra Provincial Council. Events like La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec reinforce our strategy for promoting the region, highlighting our maritime identity, our coastline, and our ability to attract an international audience interested in ocean sailing and quality tourism.”
“What we experienced in 2025 was extraordinary, with a mobilized port, an enthusiastic city, and skippers who discovered in our estuary much more than just a place to stop over,” adds Carlos Botana, President of the Port of Vigo. “ The Solitaire du Figaro Paprec represents pushing boundaries and the excellence of ocean sailing, and the Vigo estuary offers unique conditions for this challenge. In 2026, we will once again open our doors to the world thanks to the commitment of the entire port community and the support of the institutions.”
A first step with a promising scenario
In 2025, for the reunion between the port of Vigo and the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec, rookie Hugo Cardon burst onto the scene , dazzling the second leg with his talent and youthful energy. This chapter kept spectators on the edge of their seats, combining length, intensity, and numerous twists and turns. The sailing required the solo sailors to dig deep and demonstrate remarkable composure, as a ridge of high pressure blocked their path at the end of the course, forcing them to make a landing in very light winds on the Vigo estuary.
“I’m thrilled to be returning to Vigo, where I received an incredible welcome last year after my first stage win in the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec,” says young Hugo Cardon. “ It’s a stage that suits me perfectly: a start from Perros-Guirec among the rocks, rounding the tip of Brittany, then some real offshore sailing in the Bay of Biscay with strategic choices to make. The scenery is also magnificent, with the passage around Cape Finisterre, which can be quite windy but also calm, like last year. Tactically, this finish is very interesting, with a lot of varied terrain and local effects. I have wonderful memories of the starts in Vigo: the view in front of the city is unique, with an incredible coastal course and that sunset among the rocks as we sail up the coast. I can’t wait to be at the start of this first leg with Vigo as the final destination.”
On a course like this first stage, the confrontation between the younger generation and the returning veterans will take on its full meaning... and reveal its full flavor.
After a few days of rest and recuperation to recharge their batteries and repair the damage caused by the Gulf crossing, the fleet will set sail again on May 24th. The port of Vigo will then welcome the skippers for the start of the second leg.
