The Solitaire du Figaro Paprec, 34 sailors to win the Holy Grail

Unattainable, timeless, uncompromising, iconic, the superlatives to describe La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec - an event organized by OC Sport Pen Duick - are plentiful and all the sailors involved since the beginning of this legendary race would not say otherwise.

For this new vintage, the 56th, race loyalists still hope to add this holy grail to their impressive list of achievements, and young sea dogs are eager to experience the miles of an extraordinary course. This year, 34 skippers, including 12 rookies, will be taking the start for an exceptional edition that will recognize a sailor who has demonstrated consistency, tenacity, and most certainly audacity to win in Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue.

• Impregnable , like the many skippers who have passed through this formidable offshore school, without ever reaching a podium.

• Timeless because since the creation of the Aurore race in 1970, La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec has continued to captivate sailors, generation after generation.

• Uncompromising because with each edition, the race management pushes the limits by offering skippers courses that meet the demands of this legendary race.

• Inhuman because the skippers' self-denial pushes the human body and mind to limits that earthlings cannot imagine.

• Iconic because winning it brings a sailor into the very exclusive circle of winners of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec alongside the biggest names in French and international sailing.

  
  

Tom Dolan, the sailor not to be missed

Winner of the 2024 edition, Tom Dolan (Kingspan) returns to La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec for the eighth time with the goal of defending his title. A challenge within the challenge, as only two skippers have managed to retain their title since the race began in 1970: Guy Cornou in 1975 and 1976, and Yann Eliès in 2012 and 2013. A unique performance that would allow Tom Dolan to enter the legend. "Results objectives have not been the priority for several seasons. It has worked out quite well for me. I still have much, much, much less pressure. I think I have somewhat succeeded in the challenge of my life, my big dream, that of winning La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec. I am really going there now to have fun. I will continue with the process I put in place last year, that of working with the same team, the same system of physical and mental preparation. "The goal is to have fun and do the best I can in terms of boat speed, positioning in relation to the fleet and the weather systems. The goal is above all to enjoy what will perhaps be my last Solitaire du Figaro Paprec ," analyzed Tom Dolan.

© Alexis Courcoux

With a fifth participation, Maël Garnier (Selencia – Cerfrance), Jules Delpech (P'TIT DUC) and Charlotte Yven (Skipper Macif 2023) are the experienced members of the group but far behind Alexis Loison (Groupe REEL) who will be playing his 19th performance this year.

Charlotte Yven, the possibility of a great performance

Winner last May of the Transat Paprec double-handed with Hugo Dhallenne aboard Skipper Macif, Charlotte Yven hopes to repeat her magnificent performance of 2024 with a magnificent third place in stage 2 between Gijon and Royan and above all a Top 5 in the general classification. "I think that the Solitaire, every year, is a bit like the peak of the season, I can't wait. After a top 5 last year, 2 consecutive victories in the Transat Paprec, I want to go for the best places. But we also know that the Solitaire is always a difficult race, many of us are chasing results. I've tasted the podium so of course I want to repeat. I'm going to try to go for stage podiums and be consistent, not fall too far behind and see what that can mean for the general classification even if it's always difficult to set a goal for the general classification in this race. With the time classification, so many things can happen. We will try to take each stage one after the other, prepare well, sail well and try to grab every minute possible. It's at the end that we will do the math ," commented Charlotte Yven. Charlotte has some very serious assets to become the first woman to win La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec. Alongside Sam Goodchild, Guillaume Combescure and Loïs Berrehar, Charlotte Yven on the IMOCA MACIF Santé Prévoyance has just won the Course des Caps, the Tour of the British Isles. A new opportunity for Charlotte to gain experience within the MACIF team.

Experience to achieve perfection

For his nineteenth participation in La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec, Alexis Loison (Groupe REEL) will once again be able to count on his immense experience and his excellent knowledge of the Normandy and Breton coasts to hope to perform in the best possible way.

After so many years chasing a victory - with a best finish of fourth in 2021 - Alexis Loison is showing great resilience. "Objectively speaking, I'm not going to lie and say that I dream of victory because I feel capable of it and that I work hard for it, but in my experience, if there is a particularly difficult race to win, it's this one. There will once again be a great field. Even if many of them are not really known, there are plenty of very good sailors who have no particular shortcomings. Almost everyone has found the boat's operating instructions so places are very expensive. I can't wait to experience for the 19th time the emotions that only this race can provide ," commented Alexis Loison (Groupe REEL).

© Alexis Courcoux

The loners in ambush

In addition to these sailors, there are many who could stand out from the ruthless maritime game. Alexis Thomas (Wings of the Ocean), recent winner of the Solo Guy Cotten ahead of the young Tom Goron (Figaro Libre) and Jules Ducelier (Région Normandie), but also Hugo Dhallenne (Skipper Macif 2025), fourth in the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec 2024 and winner of the Transat Paprec in May, all hope to play at the front to guarantee themselves a very good place for the final podium. The former rookies, with a full season in Figaro under their belt, also hope to counter the performances of the veterans like Romain Bouillard (Décrochons la lune), second in the Transat Paprec, Paul Morvan (French Touch – Foricher) or Quentin Vlamynck (Les Étoiles Filantes).

A stable number of rookies but with unwavering determination

This year, 12 rookies will take the start of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec. Participating in this legendary race is certainly one of the best schools for achieving your goals and being at the start can already be like a victory. The very high level is earned and everyone is aware that they will have to hurt themselves on this course like Eliaz Morineau , former preparer of Victor Le Pape . "I am convinced that the Figaro circuit, with its one-design and the level of demand of the skippers, represents the most educational and most complete in ocean racing. I started my season quite late in fact, I joined the circuit at the beginning of March, I don't have a lot of training hours like some. I go there with the least stress possible and above all the desire to have fun. Learning alongside people who already have a lot of experience and trying to do the best, that's really my goal. "I still have the ambition to hurt myself on the water and give it my all," confided Eliaz Morineau.

Around the world – a lasting foreign presence

Five nationalities will be represented this year in La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec: in addition to the French, English, Irish, Swiss and American skippers will also be wearing the colours of their countries. Tom Dolan (Kingspan), the most French of the Irish, will be defending his title and will be up against the Swiss Anaëlle Pattusch (Humains en action), who demonstrated incredible tenacity during her first participation.

American Erica Lush (Hope) will be taking part in her first Solitaire. The daughter of a famous American sailor who competed in the BOC Challenge in the 1980s, Erica hopes to compete with the elite of ocean racing.

Partnered in the Transat Paprec with Ellie Driver (Women's Engineering Society), Oliver Hill will also be making his debut in the formidable Solitaire du Figaro Paprec. They will both be flying the flag for Great Britain.

Second edition of the Paprec Challenge, the double race to experiment

For the second time, following the success of the 2024 edition, the Défi Paprec offers the opportunity to compete in the first leg of the race as a double. The competing pairs will benefit from the same organization as the competitors in the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec, including on-water safety, race management, and all onshore infrastructure.

Currently, seven duos are registered. Winner in 2024, Arthur Meurisse - then partnered with Hugo Le Clech on Skippers MIEUX - took the plunge and joined La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec as a rookie. For this 2025 edition, the Défi Paprec will be played between Rouen and the Bay of Morlaix via the famous Fastnet lighthouse in Ireland.

This unique concept will open the race to an even wider audience, train a new generation of Figaro BENETEAU 3 sailors, inspire vocations and bring out new talent.

Discover the complete list of registered participants for the 56th Solitaire du Figaro Paprec and the list of participants in the Défi Paprec .

Download the press kit