The Grand Départ of the 55th edition of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec was given this Sunday at 3pm in the Bay of Seine for the 37 sailors competing in the race, including 16 rookies and four foreigners. The solo sailors set off in a moderate west-southwest wind of 12 to 15 knots. On the menu: a 615 nautical mile leg that will take them to Gijón (Spain) via Wolf Rock. The eight duos registered for the Défi Paprec crossed the starting line at 3:30pm. They will follow the same route as the competitors in La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec on the first leg, and will benefit from a specific ranking.
Photo credit: Vincent Olivaud
The competitors in the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec got straight to the heart of the matter with the coastal course ensuring the spectacle. Enough to allow the general public to admire the boats under sail from land one last time and to spice up the debates by imposing a first hierarchy after a little less than an hour of racing.
A great first step in perspective
The first leg, which will take the fleet from the Bay of Seine to Gijón (Spain) via Wolf Rock, promises to be as open as it is competitive. " With strictly identical boats, exceptional sailors and a demanding course, this 55th edition of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec promises to be exciting. Nothing will be decided in advance, and the winner, who will be crowned in La Turballe in Loire-Atlantique, Major Partner of the race, will have proven his worth among the greatest. The first leg towards Gijón, in Spain, has conditions that will put the sailors' nerves to the test. After an intense exit from the Channel, the winds will ease as they approach the Bay of Biscay, guaranteeing maximum suspense until the finish. It is also a valuable opportunity for the eight duos of the Défi Paprec, participating only in this first leg, to continue their learning of ocean racing in demanding conditions. "I wish all the sailors involved fair winds ," comments Julie Coutts, Managing Director of OC Sport Pen Duick. For his part, Sébastien Petithuguenin, Managing Director of the Paprec group, adds: " I am very pleased with this very high-quality line-up for the second edition of the Solitaire under the Paprec banner. With 37 participants, we have almost 20% more participants than last year, at the highest level since the move to Figaro 3 in 2019. This enthusiasm shows that we are on the right track to give the Figaro circuit a new lease of life. Because it is on this circuit that sailors can learn about ocean racing and progress towards excellence - there will be 16 of them taking part this year as rookies. We also hope that this race will inspire vocations. We are pleased that the Défi Paprec offers novices the opportunity to try out a full leg of this demanding race in double-handed mode." And this edition offers them an initiatory journey around some of the myths of the Solitaire de Rouen à Gijón: Seine Bay, Raz Blanchard, Wolf Rock and crossing the Bay of Biscay, nothing less! I wish a very good race to the eight pairs who are embarking on this new event. Fair winds to all !”
Photo credit: Alexis Courcoux
Chloé Trespeuch, the patron of the 55th edition of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec, who was on the water for the start of the race, declared: " I wish the skippers great performances during this Solitaire du Figaro Paprec! Enjoy this sporting adventure where surpassing oneself and mental management will be on the agenda. Fair winds! "
Registrations are still open on Virtual Regatta!
Registrations for La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec are still open on Virtual Regatta. The opportunity for all gaming and sailing fans to virtually participate in the premier race of the French Offshore Racing Championship and measure themselves against the best players and sailors.
To access the game, click HERE .
They said (before the pontoons left):
Basile Bourgnon (EDENRED) : " I'm going to have to get back into my bubble pretty quickly and, above all, not make any mistakes in the first few hours. We need to be on our settings right away. The rest should follow easily. Afterwards, we're also going to have to negotiate the transitions and the light airs. I think that my three years in the Figaro have taught me not to be too bad in these different phases. All that's left is to apply all that. The Cotentin passage is going to be a pretty tricky moment, it's a complicated area with the lobster pots, the rocks, the fishermen and the current. It's a big challenge to start in lively conditions ."
Gaston Morvan (Région Bretagne – CMB Performance) : “ I feel very good. I slept well last night. I am very focused on the start. Things are going to happen. Plus, it is never easy in the Bay of Seine. What is good is that we came to check out the course a little three weeks ago (on the Le Havre Allmer Cup) and we know Le Havre well. It went rather well for me but that is ancient history. We also know that it is tricky. We will still have quite a strong wind during the first hours. There will be a little relief tomorrow when we have passed Alderney, the wind will calm down. But we will have to be very focused during the first hours of the race, we will not have the right to make a mistake. I have solid bases, I know that I can hit hard if necessary. We will see what will happen. For the moment, it is focused on the first stage. We forget the start of the season, it's a blank page that opens. When you are capable of winning a pre-season race, you are capable of winning La Solitaire. All the former winners have done it but there are two of us who have won one this year so we will see if it is validated. The objective on the first leg is not to make a mistake, to sail cleanly and to arrive with a comfortable time for the rest. It is not the victory that interests me on the first leg, but rather the cleanliness .
Elodie Bonafous (Quéguiner – La Vie en Rose) : “I’m always a bit stressed, especially before the start of the first stage. We’re going to have a bit of wind at the start of the course. I’ve worked a lot on that in mental preparation. I’ve done my little breathing exercises to stay calm and composed. My overall goal on La Solitaire is to get on the podium but I’m going to take it one stage at a time. I’m going to try not to make a big mistake on the first one, to be well placed and to have fun. That’s kind of the line of conduct to follow on all the stages. ”
Arno Biston (Tizh Mor) : “ A few hours before the start, we all have our noses to the grindstone to improve the very last things and above all not to forget anything. Obviously, there is a little bit of stress before the start and afterwards, I think that on the water it will be much better. We have all been waiting for this for years so yes, I am really looking forward to it. There is no point in putting too much pressure on ourselves. We do not all have the same experience, the important thing is to do well and above all to sail well, that is the main thing. We have to be happy with the final performance .”