70 entries

Entry list over-subscribed for this year's La Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro singlehanded offshore 'world championhship'

70 skippers, including 21 rookie first timers, four women and six non-French, have submitted entries to compete in this year's La Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro. In this gruelling event the skippers will cover some 1,876 nautical miles between 21 July and 24 August sailing singlehanded to stopover ports between France, Ireland and Spain; including a record 762-mile long leg between Brest and La Coruña, Spain.

Well-known or lesser known sailors, professionals or amateurs, old hands or rookies... for the past 38 years many have wanted to be on the start line of the highlight event of the Figaro Bénéteau circuit, La Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro. The 2007 event follows in La Solitaire tradition as the race has 70 submitted entries to this date. However as stipulated in the Notice of Race, competitor numbers is limited to 55.

In this year's line up we find perennial stars of the circuit including previous winners: Nicolas Troussel (2006), Eric Drouglazet (2001) and the return of Vendee Globe, Route du Rhum and the Transat winner, Michel Desjoyeaux (Solitaire winner in 1992 and 1998), plus winners of the Rookie division: Christopher Pratt (2006), Pietro D’Ali (2005), Jean-Luc Nélias (2004), Marc Emig (2003), leg winners Gérald Veniard, Gildas Morvan, Marc Thiercelin, Laurent Pellecuer and hopeful winners: Gildas Mahé, Jeanne Grégoire, Bertrand de Broc, Frédéric Duthil, Christophe Lebas, and many others like Raphaël Dinelli, back on the scene after having taken part in three Vendée Globe races.

Figaro first timers in the 'rookie' class this time include Thierry Duprey du Vorsent (10th in the Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale 2006 in the 60ft multihull class), Servane Escoffier (second in the Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale 2006 in Monohull class 2), Frédéric Rivet (winner of the Tour de France à la Voile 2002-2004), Jean-Pierre Nicol (winner of the Tour de France à la Voile in 2006), Nicolas Lunven (2nd in the Tour de France à la Voile 2004-2005-2006). Then there are many amateurs wishing to make a dream come true such as Patrice Bougard, Jean François Bulot…

The six non-France entries are Antonio-Pedro Da Cruz (Cape Verde Islands), Pietro D’Ali (Italy), James Bird (England), Nigel King (England), Paul O’Riain (Ireland), Liz Wardley (Papua-New Guinea).

“With our 70 submitted entries, this edition once again gathers a line-up of exceptional racers, confirming the sporting merit of La Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro," comments new Race Director, Jacques Caraës. "Without mentioning the old hands of the circuit, we come across rookies who already have considerable solo experience such as Thierry Duprey du Vorsent and Servane Escoffier. We should also take note of the talented Nicolas Lunven and Frédéric Rivet, eager for revenge having just missed the Espoir Crédit Agricole selection in 2005. On the international front, Nigel King, has solid experience of offshore racing following his participation in the Volvo Ocean Race will be a rookie to keep an eye on."

On the topic of the race Caraës continues: "The 38th edition of the race is both innovative and contrasts with previous races. There are two short legs (the second and fourth) that will be real sprints and two very long ones in the La Solitaire tradition. The second is sure to be very technical, where strategy will be more important than pure speed. The third, which it 762 miles long, is a kind of Everest of this event."

The program:

Caen and its marina in the town centre welcome the start of La Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro for the tenth time.

- Village opens: Saturday 21 July
- Afflelou Prologue: Sunday 29 July
- Start 1st leg: Tuesday 31st July

Crosshaven in Ireland, the Royal Cork Yacht Club, the oldest yacht club in the world, is where the competitors will be welcomed. It will be the sixth time the race has a stop-over in Crosshaven.

- Expected arrival of the boats: Friday 3 August
- Start seconnd leg: Monday 6 August

Brest, start town of the first edition of the Course de l’Aurore in 1970. The solo sailors will stop in this Brittany harbour for the 10th time.

- Expected arrival of the boats: Tuesday 8 August
- Start third leg: Saturday 11 August

La Coruña - having completed the longest leg of the race the single-handed sailors will rest before taking on the final sprint. The solo sailors will stop over for the 11th time in this Galician harbour, where they last crowded the pontoons in 1993.

- Expected arrival of the boats: Thursday 16 August
- Start fourth leg: Sunday 19 August

Les Sables d’Olonne will crown the winner of La Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro 2007. It will be the fifthth time the single-handed sailors borrow the famous 'Vendée Globe' channel to reach this Vendée harbour.

- Expected arrival of the boats: Wednesday 2d August
- Afflelou Closing Regatta: Friday 24 August

Preparatory sailing events for this year's Solitaire include:

- Start 27 March: The BPE Trophy: Belle Ile-Marie Galante
- 1 April-31 May: The SNSM Record-Saint-Nazaire-Saint-Malo
- 5-8 May: Solo Figaro Portdefrance.com Concarneau
- 11-13 May 2007: Preparatory course in the Mediterranean
- 17-19 May 2007: Solo Figaro Les Sables
- 25-27 May 2007: The Transmanche (Abers Yacht Club)