Solitaire du Figaro


The Solitaire du Figaro, until 1979 the Course de l'Aurore, is a yearly single-handed multi-stage sailing race created in 1970 by Jean-Louis Guillemard and. The unique character of the race, the presence of great solo sailors and it being open to amateurs, has made it one of the most cherished races in French sailing. The race is always in the Atlantic but its stages vary yearly. In 2025, the race had three stages between France and Spain.

History

From 1970 to 1979 the race was organised by the newspaper L'Aurore. In 1980 the daily newspaper Le Figaro bought out L'Aurore and became the principal sponsor of the event.
From 2003, the eyewear company was an associate sponsor. The official name of the race became La Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro. Since 2008, the motor manufacturer Suzuki replaced them, and the race became named La Solitaire du Figaro Suzuki.
Since 2011 the title sponsor of the race has been Éric Bompard Cachemire, a French fashion house specialising in cashmere garments.
The characteristics of the race are:
  • It starts around the end of July from a French port.
  • The race is split into 4 stages of varying length from year to year, from the length of the French coast and making up a total of around on average. Over the years the race has lasted between 10 and 13 days at sea.
  • Each competitor is alone in the boat, participation is mixed.
  • Since 1990, all boats are of one design.

    Boats

In 1991, the Solitaire du Figaro made the milestone of becoming a One-Design race. The race organisers chose the Bénéteau Figaro designed by Group Finot and Jean Berret.
In 2003, a new design called Beneteau Figaro 2 was introduced and it was replaced in 2018, by the hydrofoiling Beneteau Figaro 3.

Past winners

Results

''All places are in France unless otherwise stated.''

2003

  • Overall results:
42 skippers started, 42 finished.

2004

51 competitors.
  • Overall results:
52 skippers started, 52 finished.

2005

  • Overall results:
46 skippers started, 42 finished.

2006

Started 6 August 2006, with 44 competitors.
  • Overall results:

    2007

Started 29 July 2007, with 50 competitors.
After ten competitions, Michel Desjoyeaux was the third French sailor to win his third Figaro race, this one being marked by strong winds (as much as in the last two stages which crossed the Gulf of Gascogne.
  • Overall results:
Nicolas Lunven in Bostik finished first newcomer in 14th place.

2008

Started 25 July 2008, with 50 competitors.
  • Overall results:
François Gabart in Espoir Région Bretagne finished first newcomer in 16th place.
Nicolas Troussel won a race marked by a windless first stage in which he "tué la course" by arriving six hours ahead. It was his second victory in the race.

2009

Started 30 July 2009 for the 40th race, with 52 competitors.
  • Overall results:

    2017

Starting on 4 June 2017 from Pauillac, France the 48th edition of the race commenced with 43 competitors:
36 French, 3 British, 1 Swiss, 1 Turkish, 1 Czech and 1 American – a split of 37 men and 6 women skippers took on the challenge.
  • 1st stage: Pauillac – Gijon – 525 nmi
  • 2nd stage: Gijon – Concarneau – 520 nmi
  • 3rd stage: Concarneau – Concarneau – 120 nmi
  • 4th stage: Concarneau – Dieppe – 505 nmi
  • Overall results:
  1. Nicolas Lunven in 247h 8min 52s
  2. +34min 32s
  3. Charlie Dalin +22min 29s
  • Rookie prize – Julien Pulve in 249h 44min 45s
  • Amateur prize – in 253h 57min 28s