Solitaire du Figaro to visit Torbay

45th running of the unofficial world championship of singlehanded offshore racing to set sail from Bordeaux

Preparing to light an impressive 46 candles on her birthday cake in 2015, the Solitaire du Figaro – Eric Bompard Cachemire is fast becoming the grand old lady of world-class solo offshore racing. Regardless of her age, La Solitaire is still as ruthless and dynamic as ever, putting the world’s finest offshore talent through their paces over a gruelling month of solo competition.

To mark the race’s 46-year mile stone, in 2015 competitors will sail a 2015 mile course between three old and two new ports. Pierre Bojic, Managing Director of Race Organisers Pen Duick, explains: “The Solitaire du Figaro course will take the fleet to both already well established and exciting new host venues in 2015, returning to Bordeaux (France), Concarneau (France) and Dieppe (France) and introducing the competitors to Sanxenxo (Spain) and Torbay (UK)."

Returning to Bordeaux after its successful visit in 2013, after a week of pre-start celebrations at the city's Harbour Festival, the Solitaire du Figaro 2015 will start on 31 May from the village of Paulliac half way down the Gironde between Bordeaux and the sea.

From Bordeaux the fleet of up to fourty five  33ft Bénéteau Figaro IIs will race 461nm to the Sanxenxo, the Spanish town making its Solitaire du Figaro debut in 2015. Racing 522nm from Sanxenxo to the Concarneau, the 2015 skippers will finish Leg 2 of the race in the familiar French waters of south Brittany.

The penultimate 602nm race leg from Concarneau to Torbay will see the fleet once again round the notorious Fastnet Rock off the Irish coast, Land's End, The Lizard, and Berry Head before receiving a warm welcome in Torbay as they conclude Leg 3.

Echoing the fourth and final leg of the 2013 race, the fleet will then make their final charge to the 2015 finish line in Dieppe along the south coast of the UK, but first looping west from Torbay around the Island of Lundy – a 400ft granite outcrop in the Bristol Channel.

“The 2015 edition of the Solitaire du Figaro is set to be a long race covering the largest geographic area the race has seen for many years,” reported Solitaire du Figaro Race Director Gilles Chiorri. “Sailing as far south as Spain and as north as the UK, the distance will for sure take its toll on the skippers – it will be a tiring and intense solo endurance race. It will be really important for the skippers to pace themselves over the four stages and they’ll need every ounce of their skill to get them to the finish line.”

For the British Artemis Offshore Academy fleet, the 2015 course holds both happy memories and exciting prospects. Starting and finishing the 2013 edition of the race in Bordeaux and Dieppe, Sam Goodchild and Jack Bouttell went on to make British Solitaire history – Sam achieving the best British result in 38 years (11th) and Jack becoming the first British sailor to win La Solitaire's Rookie class in the history of the race.

Inspired by Sam Matson’s outstanding performance in the 2014 edition of the race (15th overall and second Rookie), this year’s British Solitaire du Figaro Rookie’s Robin Elsey, Rob Bunce and Andrew Baker can’t wait to deliver on their potential in the race to Torbay – hopefully boasting a result the home crowds can be proud of: “The UK stop over will bring with it enormous pride for all of us. Sailing into British waters representing the UK in one of the toughest ocean racing events in the world will be an achievement in itself, but hopefully we’ll see the Brits dominating on the leaderboard,” said a motivated Robin, already looking forward to introducing the race to his friends and family on English soil. “Torbay and the surrounding area is very beautiful, and the locals are really friendly and supportive. The British team have already been to visit the bay in support of the UK Solitaire du Figaro bid, and now I can’t wait to return with the race next June.”

Mayor of Torbay Gordon Oliver continued: “The Torbay council and the Royal Torbay Yacht Club were the driving force in securing the stopover in 2015. On top of helping increase the notoriety of Torquay and it’s neighbouring towns of Paignton and Brixham, the Solitaire du Figaro – Eric Bombard Cachemire’s presence in Torbay marks another big chapter in the history of the area for hosting significant sailing events. This started way back in 1948 when that year’s Olympic Regatta was hosted here too. The warmest of welcomes awaits the skippers, the organisers and the visitors to the English Riviera.” The Solitaire du Figaro will descend on Torbay between the 17th and 21st June 2015 – read more on the Torbay stop over here.

At 2015nm, the 2015 Solitaire du Figaro course is one of the longest in race history and it will take everything in the skippers’ solo offshore arsenal to get them to the finish line. With just over five months to go until the build up begins in Bordeaux, training is underway for the British and French skippers alike. Starting from Paulliac, down river from the host city, Bordeaux, on 31 May, the 2015 Solitaire du Figaro is expected to conclude in Dieppe on 28 June.

The 2015 Solitaire du Figaro – Eric Bompard Cachemire course

Leg 1 – starts 31st May
Bordeaux, France to Sanxenxo, Spain – 461nm

Leg 2 – starts 7th June
Sanxenxo, Spain to Concarneau, France – 522nm

Leg 3 – starts 14th June
Concarneau, France to Torbay, UK – 602nm

Leg 4 –starts 21st June
Torquay, UK to Dieppe, France – 600nm