In these troubled times, where postponements succeed cancellations in the world of sport, rare are the events that can be envisaged for the future with a certain serenity. The Solitaire du Figaro and the Vendée Globe are among them thanks to their late positioning on the calendar (departure scheduled for August 30 for the first and November 8 for the second). The organizers of the Solitaire, who are still looking for a title partner for the 51st edition, unveil an original route this Tuesday, because without any stopovers planned abroad. Goodbye Spanish tapas, English or Irish red beers. And make way for French-French stages. A great first in history (which is explained in particular by the absence of a partner). This will not prevent the Figaristes from going to play more or less near foreign coasts, during the first two rounds.
The first stage will release the madmen on August 30th from the bay of Saint-Brieuc, for a large loop of 642 miles which will bring them back to their starting point, the port of Saint-Quay-Portrieux, after a round trip to the legendary lighthouse of Fastnet (the only brand of course). A muscular and tricky warm-up in the English Channel and Irish Sea.
The second stage of 497 miles will take the Figaristes on the same start of the route as during the first with a climb to the English lighthouse of Wolf Rock then a return to the lighthouse of Antifer near Etretat before finishing in Dunkirk . With the program, power, sandbanks and a very first visit, once safely, to the town hall dear to the Black Baron aka Kad Merad. “The welcome looks warm. But before, there will be a lot of openness and headache during these first two stages. Then, on the next two which will be much more coastal, the sailors will be more on the management of lucidity, the ability to sleep little and at the right time, and on pure speed ", warns Francis Le Goff, the race director .
"The Figaristes, who will have sailed little or no before the Solitaire, will be hungry "
Francis Le GoffThe third course placed in front of the bows of Figaro-Bénéteau 3 foils will actually look like a long and pretty coastal course of 512 miles between Dunkirk and the Loire estuary. If the port of arrival, Saint-Nazaire, has not yet been officially confirmed by Loire-Atlantique (Pornichet is mentioned as an alternative), lone sailors will have to manage many traps (peak effects, currents, islands, rocks, fishermen) to get by. And hope to find yourself in a position to win at the end of the fourth round, this express loop of 183 miles and twenty-four hours, at the start and finish of Loire-Atlantique, which will turn heads around the Isles of 'Yeu, Belle-Île and Groix. “ We must not believe that everything will be played before this last stage. There will be a large tide coefficient (113) and therefore a lot of currents around the islands, rejoices Francis Le Goff, clearly not unhappy with the complexity of this 2020 route. The Figaristes, who will have had little or no sailing before the Lonely, are going to be hungry . " There will be enough to satisfy them.
"Our sailors are logically concerned about the current situation"
Yvon BretonActually deprived of the Transat AG2R La Mondiale (originally scheduled for April 19) due to coronavirus, solitary sailors could, if the virus allows it, warm up on the Havre side for the All Mer Cup (June 5 to 14) ) and between Cherbourg and La Trinité for the Drheam-Cup (from July 18). “ I am hopeful that we will have three races for our French Elite offshore racing championship. Afterwards, our sailors are logically concerned about the current situation. Because potential partners, especially SMEs, will have other concerns than sailing, ”explains Yvon Breton, the president of the Figaro-Bénéteau class.
Alex Picot, the new race manager within the organizing company OC Sport expects the presence at the Solitaire of " about thirty-five boats, which would be less than the 49 of the 50th anniversary edition, but the plateau will be provided ”. With Armel Le Cléac'h, winner of the last Vendée Globe and conquering a third coronation on the Solitaire, headlining. Yann Eliès, already a triple winner, would be "hot hot" like Paul Meilhat, Adrien Hardy, Anthony Marchand, Gildas Mahé, Martin Le Pape and the bizuths Erwan Le Draoulec and Robin Follin. Beautiful people for a Solitaire of all uncertainties.
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