RACE HISTORY
In 1970 the first edition of La Solitaire du Figaro took place; it was then called the Aurore race because it was organized by the newspaper of the same name. In 1980 , Le Figaro bought the event which now bears his name.
Its founders, Jean-Louis Guillemard and Jean-Michel Barrault wanted to create a solo race with two stages and without assistance open to both the best professionals and amateurs.
Over the years, it has become one of the most prestigious sailing races in France.
Initially, all types of boats participated.
However, after 1980 , racing switched to prototype Half Tonners originally designed for crewed racing. In 1991 , a new milestone was reached with the arrival of the Figaro BENETEAU I, specially designed by
Jean-Marie Finot for the solo race. In 2003 , a new boat, longer and more powerful was chosen, the Figaro BENETEAU 2. It will support the race until 2018.
Since 2019 , the Figaro BENETEAU 3, the first production foil one-design in the world, has succeeded it.
The race, historically, always starts from France with a total course of between 1,500 and 2,000 nautical miles; it offers, depending on the edition, stopovers in foreign countries, particularly in Spain, Ireland and Great Britain. .
HALF-TONNERS - 1970 TO 1990
1970
There are twelve of them leaving Brest for the first edition of the Course de l'Aurore, then in two stages. It is Joan de Kat, nicknamed the “eccentric bearded man”, who wins the Race.
1st: Joan from KAT
2nd: Michel MALINOVSKY
3rd: Pierre BONNET
1971
Brest is once again the starting point for solo sailors. Michel Malinovsky leads Pierre Bonnet at the finish of the two stages by more than half an hour.
1st: Michel MALINOVSKY
2nd: Pierre BONNET
3rd: Yves DEBORDE
1972
Competitors reach England for the first time, with the race expanding to three stages. It was a former combat diver who stood out: Jean-Marie Vidal.
1st: Jean Marie VIDAL
2nd: Michel GIRARD
3rd: Michel MALINOVSKY
1973
The race, which now has three stages, saw the total victory of Gilles Le Baud while a storm decimated three quarters of the fleet. There are in fact only four classified at the arrival in Pornic!
1st: Gilles LE BAUD
2nd: Dominique LUNVEN
3rd: Eugène RIGUIDEL
1974
Ireland is hosting the race for the first time. The Parisian Eugène Riguidel, the one we call the “Sunday sailor”, won this fifth edition without winning a stage.
1st: Eugène RIGUIDEL
2nd: Bruno LUNVEN
3rd: Bernard PALLARD
1975
Guy Cornou, a commercial sailor, won the first two stages with a lead of five and eight hours. The last one is removed by the only woman who has achieved this feat, the Englishwoman Clare Francis.
1st: Guy CORNOU
2nd: Gilles GAHINET
3rd: Bruno LUNVEN
1976
Four stages are on the program. Guy Cornou, playing on superstition, takes a rabbit on board to Ireland. Although he had won the first two courses, he set his boat on the Cardinals but managed, with the hull breached, to cross the finish line in triumph.
1st: Guy CORNOU
2nd: Bernard PALLARD
3rd: Gilles GAHINET
1977
Malinovsky wins two races but, stuck in the calm like the entire fleet, he remains with his arms dangling before the flight of Gilles Gahinet. The VHF offers runners the means to be patient.
1st: Gilles GAHINET
2nd: Patrick MORVAN
3rd: Michel MALINOVSKY
1978
The Irish Sea imposes its furies. Four skippers are missing upon arrival in Kinsale. If there is no missing person, Pierre Saint-Jalm is airlifted from Cape Lizard while his boat is on the stones. Gilles Le Baud doubles the prize list.
1st: Gilles LE BAUD 2nd: Patrick ELIES 3rd: Patrick MORVAN
1979
The hurricane which dramatically affected the Fastnet event, with fifteen deaths, practically discouraged all the competitors in this last Race of the Dawn. Pierre Follenfant, whose boat sank, is miraculously saved by Olivier Moussy who sees his flashlight at the top of a wave. Patrick Eliès wins with a lead of fourteen hours.
1st: Patrick ELIES
2nd: Olivier MOUSSY
3rd: Gilles GAHINET
1980
The Solitaire du Figaro was shortened by one stage after a movement by fishermen. Gilles Gahinet, on a revolutionary prototype, wins for the second time. Alain Gautier, future winner, obtained a special exemption to participate, because he is still a minor.
1st: Gilles GAHINET
2nd: Patrick MORVAN
3rd: Philippe POUPON
1981
Sylvain Rosier wins this windy Solitaire. The battle was superb on the third stage between Fountaine, Caradec and Gahinet who won despite sciatica, a precursor to the illness which would take his life three years later.
1st: Sylvain ROSIER
2nd: Jean François FOUNTAINE
3rd: Gilles GAHINET
1982
The Solitaire du Figaro attracts more and more enthusiasts. Most of them, sponsored, are professionals, sailing on increasingly sophisticated prototypes and benefiting from assistance on land. Philippe Poupon wins his first title against Damien Savatier and Lionel Péan.
1st: Philippe POUPON
2nd: Gilles GAHINET
3rd: Hervé PAPIN
1983
Lionel Péan wins the last three stages, Alain Gautier having won the first in Ireland. Mabire and Moussy are miraculous: having fallen into the water in the Bay of Biscay, they both managed to get back on board their boat.
1st: Lionel PEAN
2nd: Philippe POUPON
3rd: Damien SAVATIER
1984
Poupon absent after his victory in the English Transat, young guns impose their rhythm. Christophe Cudennec, aged 24, won even though he was only participating for the second time. Gilles Gahinet, exhausted by illness, nevertheless participated in his eleventh Solitaire.
1st: Christophe CUDENNEC
2nd: Damien SAVATIER
3rd: Gerry TRENTESAUX
1985
A fight of titans. While Luc Berthillier, missing for five days, is recovered drifting in his life raft by a Spanish trawler, Jean Le Cam and Philippe Poupon fight at loggerheads. “King John” dozed off for an hour during the third stage and saw his opponent fly to victory. He will console himself with the victory of the last round.
1st: Philippe POUPON
2nd: Jean LE CAM
3rd: Christophe CUDENNEC
1986
For the seventeenth edition, the wind is absent. The endless days at the helm dedicated the future winner of the third Vendée Globe, the Granvillais Christophe Auguin, who won the last two stages.
1st: Christophe AUGUIN
2nd: Pascal LEYS
3rd: Patrick ELIES
1987
He had won fifteen years earlier. Jean-Marie Vidal, a former paratrooper and combat swimmer, then head of a sailing school in the Camargue, did it again.
1st: Jean Marie VIDAL
2nd: François LAMIOT
3rd: Antoine LEBEC
1988
Alain Gautier domine l’épreuve sur les trois premiers tracés. Malheureusement, scotché dans une bulle sans vent, il assiste au hold-up du bizuth Laurent Bourgnon, qui s’offre la victoire pour son unique participation à La Solitaire.
1er : Laurent BOURGNON
2ème : Alain GAUTIER
3ème : Antoine LEBEC
1989
For his tenth attempt, Alain Gautier wins. Like the previous year, he dominated his subject when on the last stage, stuck in a locker, he was forced to dive to free himself. He lost the last heat but won the race with a 27-minute lead.
1st: Alain GAUTIER
2nd: Halvard MABIRE
3rd: Laurent CORDELLE
1990
The half-tonners are experiencing their ultimate Solitaire. The Figaro Solo from the Bénéteau shipyards makes its appearance and commands respect by dominating the race. Yves Parlier and Michel Desjoyeaux are already showing the tip of their noses. Laurent Cordelle offers himself a great victory.
1st: Laurent CORDELLE
2nd: Dominique WAVRE
3rd: Halvard MABIRE
FIGARO BENETEAU 1 - 1991 TO 2002
1991
Newbie the previous year, Yves Parlier, the one Lionel Péan calls “the extra-terrestrial” atomized his competitors by winning three stages out of four by putting into practice all his qualities based on intuitive analysis.
1st: Yves PARLIER
2nd: Michel DESJOYEAUX
3rd: François LAMIOT
1992
A change of tide in Kinsale decides everything from the first stage. Only five competitors out of the forty-six at the start play for the win. At the end of a breathtaking sprint, Michel Desjoyeaux pocketed his first success ahead of Jean Le Cam, the man who would be called “King Jean” after his victory two years later.
1st: Michel DESJOYEAUX
2nd: Jean LE CAM
3rd: Damien SAVATIER
1993
While this is his tenth participation, Jean Le Cam hopes to have won the race after three stage victories. But a bad choice at the start of Kinsale takes away his illusions. Dominic Vittet pockets the title 2 hours and 29 minutes ahead without having removed a single course.
1st: Dominic VITTET
2nd: Jean LE CAM
3rd: Roland JOURDAIN
1994
“King John” finally! It was at the end of the suffering that the Breton won his first title. Jean Le Cam, helped by a hitherto absent wind, crossed the Vendée line to win in one breath the race he so desired.
1st: Jean LE CAM
2nd: Hervé de KERGARIOU
3rd: Roland JOURDAIN
1995
Philippe Vicariot, a passionate amateur, created a surprise on the first stage by gaining an hour head start. Until the end he thinks he holds the keys to his paradise. Unfortunately for him, Philippe Poupon, without winning a stage, recorded a third triumph on his record and won with an 8-minute lead.
1st: Philippe POUPON
2nd: Philippe VICARIOT
3rd: Jean LE CAM
1996
It's the year of another miracle on La Solitaire. Having fallen into the water during the second stage, Alain Gautier drifted clinging to a board. He owes his salvation to Nicolas Bérenger passing in front of him a few long minutes later. Jean Le Cam wins the game for the second time.
1st: Jean LE CAM
2nd: Michel DESJOYEAUX
3rd: Hervé de KERGARIOU
1997
For his second participation, the former “Skipper Elf”, the southerner Franck Cammas, takes the first stage. Subsequently, he managed his lead and left the other courses to Thiercelin, Gautier and Jourdain. A legend is born.
1st: Franck CAMMAS
2nd: Dominique WAVRE
3rd: Marc GUESSARD
1998
Another first step that causes damage. Five contenders for victory will compete. Michel Desjoyeaux, nicknamed “the professor”, because he is not stingy with advice for the young people of the Classe Figaro Bénéteau, achieves a second success with panache, maturity and simplicity.
1st: Michel DESJOYEAUX
2nd: Eric DROUGLAZET
3rd: Jean LE CAM
1999
A narrow route with a first stage towards Brest starting from... Brest, via a buoy in England. Jean Le Cam scores a third success and joins Philippe Poupon on the list of the greatest number of victories.
1st: Jean LE CAM
2nd: Eric DROUGLAZET
3rd: Gildas MORVAN
2000
A special race with a finish in Saint Nazaire which has already sealed the debates. The rookie Armel Le Cléac'h almost created a surprise, but it was the Basque Pascal Bidegorry who won for his sixth participation.
1st: Pascal BIDEGORRY
2nd: Armel LE CLEAC’H
3rd: Gildas MORVAN
2001
On the longest course of all time, unfortunately missing a sleeve as a strong gale swept across the south of Ireland, Eric Drouglazet in the cador and for his ninth participation crushed his pursuers when arriving on his native land where the triumph of a Basco-Breton is celebrated as it should be.
1st: Eric DROUGLAZET
2nd: Sébastien JOSSE
3rd: Gildas MORVAN
2002
Four different winners at the stages and a Mediterranean on the highest step of the podium. Kito de Pavant makes a great winner. His kindness and seamanship make him an example of this high-level sport.
1st: Kito de PAVANT
2nd: Gilles CHIORRI
3rd: Charles CAUDRELIER
FIGARO BENETEAU 2 - 2003 À 2018
2003
With the advent of the Figaro Bénéteau 2, many of the circuit's former stars are returning to the race. Alain Gautier and Lionel Péan claim a stage victory, the final outcome is worthy of drama. Armel Le Cléac'h takes on La Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro by beating Alain Gautier with the smallest gap recorded since the creation of the event: 13 seconds for eternity.
1st: Armel LE CLEAC’H
2nd: Alain GAUTIER
3rd: Michel DESJOYEAUX
2004
The 35th edition is a game of cat and mouse between two skippers: Yann Eliès (two stage victories) and Charles Caudrelier (one stage victory). Two tenacious sailors, who prevailed against their fifty competitors. In Quiberon, Charles Caudrelier is the big winner with 52 minutes and 35 seconds ahead of the second.
1st: Charles CAUDRELIER
2nd: Yann ELIES
3rd: Jérémie BEYOU
2005
The 36th Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro honors Jérémie Beyou, Michel Desjoyeaux and Kito de Pavant. The stubborn Jérémie Beyou propels himself into the light of the greats. Gildas Morvan, Pietro D'Ali, Laurent Pellecuer, stage winners and all one-time leaders, also made their mark on this windy edition. Eole has not left the fleet to set a sustained pace from the English Channel to the Bay of Biscay via the Celtic Sea.
1st: Jérémie BEYOU
2nd: Michel DESJOYEAUX
3rd: Kito de PAVANT
2006
This 37th Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro will remain the edition of all records. Historical gaps, capricious weather, the nerves of the forty-four competitors were put to the test. In these conditions, Nicolas Troussel and Thierry Chabagny won the jackpot on the second stage by granting themselves almost 4 hours on Armel Le Cléac'h and up to 16 hours on the rest of the fleet. Gildas Morvan, one of the leaders of the class, takes the first step. Nicolas Troussel wins this Solitaire.
1st: Nicolas TROUSSEL
2nd: Thierry CHABAGNY
3rd: Gérald VENIARD
2007
Dantesque weather conditions and 50 sailors ready to do anything to hang their name on this famous list. The greatest was undoubtedly Michel Desjoyeaux who, by winning his third Solitaire, entered the legend. And yet the competition was tough! The young guns in the class amazed with their talents and their will. starting with Frédéric Duthil, by winning the Prologue and two stages, he climbed to the 2nd step of the podium, followed closely by Corentin Douguet who took 3rd place after only two participations.
1st: Michel DESJOYEAUX
2nd: Frédéric DUTHIL
3rd: Corentin DOUGUET
2008
Capricious weather and shortened route for this 2008 edition. Nicolas Troussel won the general after winning the first stage hands down with a 5 hour 36 minute lead over his runner-up Chritian Bos. This was without counting on the talent of Gildas Morvan and the tenacity of Frédéric Duthil who completed the podium of this Solitaire in three stages.
1st: Nicolas TROUSSEL
2nd: Gildas MORVAN
3rd: Frédéric DUTHIL
2009
Fifty-two sailors at the start, fifty-two at the finish. No abandonment. Young talents who are revealing themselves, sailing stars who have done honor to their rank, great stories, a magnificent podium, enthusiastic rookies and above all an unbearable suspense which lasted until the last miles of the last line of the race. arrival. The 40th edition kept its promises with the great victory of young Nicolas Lunven ahead of Yann Eliès who made an incredible comeback in Figaro and Frédéric Duthil who reached the podium for the third consecutive year!
1st: Nicolas LUNVEN
2nd: Yann ELIES
3rd: Frédéric DUTHIL
2010
The 41st edition of La Solitaire du Figaro brought together a very promising field: forty-five competitors including eight rookies and five foreigners. All the ingredients were there to make this 2010 Solitaire a great success with a typical course of 1717 nautical miles. What we will remember from this 2010 edition is above all the incredible domination of a rock-solid Armel Le Cléac'h, who, by winning three of the four stages, offers himself his second in the event which he had already won in 2003!
1st: Armel LE CLEAC’H
2nd: François GABART
3rd: Corentin DOUGUET
2011
Jérémie Beyou, like Armel Le Cléac'h the previous year, won his second Solitaire by signing three stage victories.
1st: Jérémie BEYOU
2nd: Fabien DELAHAYE
3rd: Erwan TABARLY
2012
Wednesday July 11 at 9:18 a.m., in the great harbor of Cherbourg, Yann Eliès is crowned winner of La Solitaire. His very first victory for his thirteenth participation! A victory acquired with style and manner.
1st: Yann ELIES
2nd: Morgan LAGRAVIERE
3rd: Nicolas LUNVEN
2013
Yann Eliès announces at the start of this 44th edition in Bordeaux: “My goal is really the double, to try to do something that has never been done.” While he was on the verge of turning around following a broken forestay during the third stage, he won two stages out of four and arrived as the big winner in Dieppe. By evoking the famous saying “Never two without three” at the finish, Yann Eliés confirms his desire to participate in 2014.
1st: Yann ELIES
2nd: Xavier MACAIRE
3rd: Morgan LAGRAVIERE
2014
Until Raz Blanchard, 20 miles from the final finish, the outcome of this 45th edition of La Solitaire is uncertain: Jérémie Beyou has the trump cards in hand but young wolves remain in ambush a few cables away, ready to pounce at the slightest leader's blunder... Over the course of four stages crowning four winners at each stopover, the course of the race sidelined several of the major contenders for victory!
1st: Jérémie BEYOU
2nd: Corentin HOREAU
3rd: Charlie DALIN
2015
Intense, imprévisible, douloureuse, inoubliable : une vraie Solitaire ! Au terme de quatre étapes, 1661 milles parcourus, les trente- neuf skippers ont vécu leur lot d’aventure, et c’est Yann Eliès qui remporte sa troisième Solitaire, rejoignant le club restreint des triples vainqueurs : Jérémie Beyou, Michel Desjoyeaux, Jean Le Cam et Philippe Poupon.
1er : Yann ELIES
2ème : Charlie DALIN
3ème : Xavier MACAIRE
2016
A memorable edition for its four complicated stages in terms of course, but also for its very varied weather, and for the talent demonstrated by a handful of sailors at the forefront. Yoann Richomme, confident and in great shape, was able to bring together all his talents to win. He snatched victory just 5 minutes and 5 seconds ahead of Charlie Dalin.
1st: Yoann RICHOMME
2nd: Charlie DALIN
3rd: Nicolas LUNVEN
2017
A 48th edition which will probably go down in the annals of solo offshore racing. And a deserving winner. Nicolas Lunven from the first stage between Bordeaux and Gijon demonstrates know-how, experience and ease in leading his horse in the strong breeze. 50 to 55 knots on the Rochebonne plateau, heavy seas, multiple damages and in the end a first place just ahead of Adrien Hardy for the red boat and its Morbihan skipper. A very first stage victory for Nicolas Lunven after eight participations in La Solitaire!
1st: Nicolas LUNVEN
2nd: Adrien HARDY
3rd: Charlie DALIN
2018
An edition of all the surprises which will have spared no one, in particular the sharpest of the competitors, with a first stage in trying weather conditions and a final 24-hour loop which will have managed to maintain the suspense. Two stage victories for Anthony Marchand which only highlight the great victory of Sébastien Simon who was able to maintain psychological ascendancy over his opponents throughout the event.
1st: Sébastien SIMON
2nd: Anthony MARCHAND
3rd: Charlie DALIN
FIGARO BENETEAU 3 - 2019 À PRÉSENT
2019
For the 50th edition of its history, La Solitaire du Figaro is offering a new support: the Figaro BENETEAU 3. Just as with the arrival of the Figaro BENETEAU 2, some of the greatest sailors are returning to compete on this new boat. We can name Jérémie Beyou, Michel Desjoyeaux, Yann Elies, Armel Le Cleac'h, Gildas Morvan, Yoann Richomme, Thomas Ruyant, etc... After unpredictable weather, Yoann Richomme ended up winning and joining the closed circle of double winners.
1st: Yoann Richomme
2nd: Gildas Mahé
3rd: Anthony Marchand
2020
In 2019, Armel Le Cléac'h set himself the goal of winning La Solitaire du Figaro once again. To get there, he gave himself 2 years. This was done in the 51st edition where he managed to win this emblematic race for a third time! This edition was also marked by capricious weather. The fourth stage could not be run and Armel was crowned winner on the starting line in Saint-Nazaire.
1st: Armel Le Cléac’h
2nd: Frédéric Duthil
3rd: Tom Laperche
2021
The 52nd edition of La Solitaire du Figaro was marked by some great clashes between the different sailors. One of the most memorable duels took place between Pierre Quiroga and Xavier Macaire. During this intense competition, Xavier managed to win the first stage, while Pierre won the next two stages. In the end, Pierre managed to win by beating Xavier by 48 minutes and 22 seconds.
1st: Pierre Quiroga
2nd: Xavier Macaire
3rd: Tom Laperche
2022
During this edition of La Solitaire du Figaro, Tom Laperche brilliantly won the victory, relegating Guillaume Pirouelle, first Bizuth, to second place. This victory marks a moment of consecration for Tom, who had already reached the final podium during the two previous editions of the competition. Tom now sails in Ultim, 32-meter trimarans, and will start the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE-Brest on January 7, 2024.
1st: Tom LAPERCHE
2nd: Guillaume PIROUELLE
3rd: Achille NEBOUT
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2023
Cette édition de La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec s'est révélée être pleine de rebondissements et d'imprévus. En effet lors de l'étape 2, l'Île de Man a enfin été atteinte pour la première fois dans l'histoire de La Solitaire. Malgré cela les conditions de vent sont faibles. Les trois premiers Basile Bourgnon, Corentin Horeau, et Loïs Berrehar réussissent à s'échapper du reste de la flotte et passer la ligne d'arrivée avant que la pétole ne s’installe au large de la Baie de Morlaix. Les écarts se creusent, et de nombreux favoris, à l'instar de Guillaume Pirouelle et Alexis Loison, se retrouvent à des années lumières des trois premiers, brisant au passage tout espoir de les rattraper au classement général. Au final, Corentin Horeau remporte le classement général de la 54ème édition de La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec.
1er : Corentin HOREAU
2ème : Basile BOURGNON
3ème : Loïs BERREHAR