Tom Dolan Lying 16th: Challenging Start in Demanding First Figaro Leg

9th September 2025

Afloat.ie Team

La Solitaire du Figaro 2025 competitors round the Skerries Bank on the first leg. With the mark behind them, spinnakers went up for the long slide down to the next waypoint: the Daffodils cardinal buoy, off Dieppe. Another Channel crossing lies ahead, but this long run should give the solo sailors a chance to regroup: grab food, snatch some rest, and think ahead to the next tactical calls. Credit: Thomas Campion

The first leg of La Solitaire du Figaro 2025 is proving to be exceptionally tough. With 334 miles still to cover, reigning champion Ireland's Tom Dolan currently sits in 16th place, just four miles off the lead.

The fleet is criss-crossing the busy English Channel, facing tankers, ferries, and fishing boats. This relentless environment offers little opportunity for sleep or rest.

As of daybreak on the second day, sailors are heading east toward Dieppe. They are navigating a long downwind leg from Cornwall, with light breezes complicating their progress.

“The leading group was in constant turnover overnight,” said a team source. The next turning point, the Daffodils mark, is just 16 miles away, where the fleet is expected to compress dramatically.

Facing strong currents and a dying wind, many sailors may need to set anchors and wait for more favourable conditions. “Patience and opportunism will be crucial,” an analyst commented.

This leg could stretch beyond four days, presenting a severe test of mental endurance. By Wednesday evening, strong westerly winds are forecast, adding to the physical challenges ahead.

“Experience and stamina will differentiate the fleet as the race unfolds," stated another expert.

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Published in Figaro, Tom Dolan

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Ireland & La Solitaire du Figaro

The Solitaire du Figaro, was originally called the course de l’Aurore until 1980, was created in 1970 by Jean-Louis Guillemard and Jean-Michel Barrault.

Half a decade later, the race has created some of France's top offshore sailors, and it celebrated its 50th anniversary with a new boat equipped with foils and almost 50 skippers Including novices, aficionados and six former winners.

The solo multi-stage offshore sailing race is one of the most cherished races in French sailing and one that has had Irish interest stretching back over 20 years due to the number of Irish stopovers, usually the only foreign leg of the French race.

What Irish ports have hosted The Solitaire du Figaro?

The race has previously called to Ireland to the following ports; Dingle, Kinsale, Crosshaven, Howth and Dun Laoghaire.

What Irish sailors have raced The Solitaire du Figaro?

So far there have been seven Irish skippers to participate in La Solitaire du Figaro.

In 1997, County Kerry's Damian Foxall first tackled the Figaro from Ireland. His win in the Rookie division in DHL gave him the budget to compete again the following year with Barlo Plastics where he won the final leg of the race from Gijon to Concarneau. That same year a second Irish sailor Marcus Hutchinson sailing Bergamotte completed the course in 26th place and third Rookie.

In 2000, Hutchinson of Howth Yacht Club completed the course again with IMPACT, again finishing in the twenties.

In 2006, Paul O’Riain became the third Irish skipper to complete the course.

In 2013, Royal Cork's David Kenefick raised the bar by becoming a top rookie sailor in the race.

In 2018, for the first time, Ireland had two Irish boats in the offshore race thanks to Tom Dolan and Joan Mulloy who joined the rookie ranks and kept the Irish tricolour flying high in France. Mulloy became the first Irish female to take on the race.

Tom Dolan in Smurfit Kappa competed for his third year in 2020 after a 25th place finish in 2019. Dolan sailed a remarkably consistent series in 2020 and took fifth overall, the best finish by a non-French skipper since 1997 when Switzerland’s Dominique Wavre finished runner up. Dolan wins the VIVI Trophy.

Dolan finished 10th on the first stage, 11th on the second and seventh into Saint Nazaire at the end of the third stage. Stage four was abandoned due to lack of wind.

Also in 2020, Dun Laoghaire’s Kenneth Rumball became the eleventh Irish sailor to sail the Figaro.

At A Glance – Figaro Race

It starts in June or July from a French port.
The race is split into four stages varying from year to year, from the length of the French coast and making up a total of around 1,500 to 2,000 nautical miles (1,700 to 2,300 mi; 2,800 to 3,700 km) on average.
Over the years the race has lasted between 10 and 13 days at sea.
The competitor is alone in the boat, participation is mixed.
Since 1990, all boats are of one design.