Solitaire du Figaro 2006

Course for the singlehanded offshore one design championship announced

Starting on 6 August, 2006, the course for the 37th Afflelou Solitaire du Figaro is one of the longest in the history of the race - 1,898 miles over four legs between France, Spain and Ireland, varying in length between 314 and 590 miles.

The start, is from Cherbourg Octeville, hosting the start for the fifth time. Leg one goes round Ushant across the Bay of Biscay to Santander, northern Spain. At 590 miles this is the longest leg of the Afflelou Solitaire du Figaro. The race last visited Santander back in 1971 when it was won by Michel Malinovsky (famously beaten within sight of the finish line of the 1978 Route du Rhum by Mike Birch). Santander will be festive mood as 2006 sees it celebrating it 250th anniversary.

From Santander the boats head on the regular leg of the course up towards Brittany around a turning mark before heading south down the coast once again to Saint Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, home of French boatbuilding giant Beneteau and of the class' Beneteau Figaro Solo 32 footer. This will be the second occasion the Solitaire du Figaro has visited Saint Gilles, the first being in 2004.

The third leg takes the boats up to Dingle on the coast of southern Ireland, a distance of 549 miles. This will be the third time the race has visited this port. The last leg takes the boats round the Fastnet, the Scilly Isles and ile de Groix before reaching the finish line at the Figaro class stronghold of Concarneau.

Racing is expected to take 15 days with three days of recovery time in each port.