Figaro at the limit

One person on the waiting list for this year's Solitaire Afflelou le Figaro

The Solitaire Afflelou le Figaro singlehanded race runs from 19 July to 15 August this year will see 55 entries at the Caen start. This is 13 more skippers than in 2003 confirming the growing interest in this event from sailors. The 35th running of the event will offer entrants a highly competitive race combining speed and endurance over a 1,476 mile course.

The Solitaire this year has three new ports of call (Caen - St-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie and Portsmouth) and returns to Quiberon once again. The list of registered skippers includes some of the world's most talented solo sailors from six nationalities: English, Australian, Belgian, French, Dutch and Swiss.

If one where to count the number of sailing achievements between the sailors taking part they would amount to over 120 transatlantic races (Route du Rhum, Quebec-St Malo, Transat AG2R, etc.), more than ten circumnavigations (Jules Verne Trophy, Whitbread, The Race, Vendée Globe), over 20 Tour de France à la Voile, international yacht races (Fastnet, Sydney – Hobart, Rolex Cup, Match Racing, etc.)

In the notice of race, the number of competitors is limited to 55, on the deadline registration date. To date, one skipper is on the waiting list and will be admitted if one of the 55 competitors pulls out or does not qualify.

Among the 55 skippers, Armel Le Cléac’h, winner of the 2003 edition and recent winner of Figaro class' Transat AG2R will be defending his title. He will face once again the greats of the Figaro Bénéteau circuit, such as Gildas Morvan, Charles Caudrelier, Jérémie Beyou, Romain Attanasio, Pascal Bidégorry, Ronan Guérin, Jean-Paul Mouren (holding the record number of participations at 17 times), Erwan Tabarly… and Bertrand de Broc.

Some of the names on the entry list had not appeared for over 15 years! Such is the case of Arnaud Guillouet, his last time being in 1989, as for Halvard Mabire, he returns after a 13 year absence and yet an even greater sailing achievements. Dominic Vittet, 11 years after his victory in 1993, will also be on the start line.

This 35th edition is also notable for the growing number of newcomers; 16 will battle it out for the Bénéteau trophy. Racing once again is Jean-Luc Nelias (2nd in the Transat Jacques Vabre 1997 and 2003, winner of the Quebec-St Malo in 1998), Armel Tripon (winner of the Mini Transat 2003), Olivier Krauss the new Espoir Crédit Agricole sailor, Rodolphe Jacq, (winner of the Transat ag2r 2002). The race also see four ladies: Liz Wardley and Marie-Albane Daniel, two new sailors to the event who join Sam Davies and Jeanne Grégoire.

The closeness of the Solitaire Afflelou le Figaro was demonstrated by Armel le Cléac’h‘s 2003 victory: only 13 seconds ahead of second placed Alain Gautier.

Route

The Solitarie Afflelou le Figaro will leave Caen for Portsmouth, her sister town, then will go to the port of St-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie before stopping over in Gijon in northern Spain to then cross the finish line in Britanny.

“The route for this 2004 edition will be slightly shorter than in previous years," explains La Solitaire Afflelou le Figaro Race Director, Denis Horeau. "The main reason for this is a first leg short in distance but quite demanding, more like a match race than a classic Solitaire one. It will be the opposite case for the remaining three legs, more in tune with the standard format of previous routes. On the one hand, a succession of coastal routes with a set course for which tactics (positioning according to the competition) will be predominant, and offshore sailing on the other hand, with open seas where the skippers establish their strategy according to the weather. A complete and complex programme.
Even though the total distance is slightly shorter than in 2003, it will be just as technical and difficult. It will produce, as it has done for the past 34 years, a great sailor and a great champion.”

The Important Dates (GMT)

· CAEN
Prologue Afflelou to Ouistreham: Friday 23rd July at 12h00
Start Leg One: Tuesday 27th July at 10h00
· PORTSMOUTH (GB)
Estimated arrival: Wednesday 28th July
Start Leg Two: Friday 30th July at 09h30
· SAINT-GILLES-CROIX-DE-VIE
Estimated arrival: Monday 2nd August
Start Leg Three: Thursday 5th August at 12h00
· GIJON (Esp.)
Estimated arrival: Sunday 8th of August
Start Leg 4: Wednesday 11th August at 13h00
· QUIBERON
Estimated arrival: Friday 13th August
Closing Regatta Afflelou : dimanche 15th August at 12h00