Loiseau Wins Dramatic Second Leg Of Solitaire Figaro

28th May 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Victory Roar – Paul Loiseau reacts after securing leg two honours aboard Région Bretagne - CMB Espoir in Pornichet Credit: Vincent Olivaud

Paul Loiseau has won the second leg of the 57th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec after a tightly fought finish into Pornichet on Thursday afternoon.The skipper of Region Bretagne - CMB Espoir crossed the line at 2:52 pm French time after 3 days, 22 hours, 52 minutes and 5 seconds at sea.

The theoretical course distance for the leg was 450 nautical miles, but Loiseau sailed almost 492 miles at an average speed of 5.18 knots. The finish remained uncertain until the closing stages, with two-time race winner Nicolas Lunven pushing hard aboard PRB.

Winning Move – Paul Loiseau celebrates after claiming victory in the second leg of the 57th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec in Pornichet. Photo: Vincent Olivaud

Lunven crossed the line just 5 minutes and 44 seconds behind Loiseau to take second place on the stage.

Close Chase – Two-time race winner Nicolas Lunven finished second on the second leg aboard PRB, less than six minutes behind Paul Loiseau. Photo: Vincent Olivaud

Alexis Thomas, racing on Wings of the Ocean, completed the podium in third place. He finished 32 minutes and 34 seconds behind the winner.

The result marks a significant stage victory for Loiseau in one of offshore sailing’s toughest solo competitions. La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec is regarded as a major proving ground for short-handed offshore sailors, with the 2026 edition again delivering close tactical racing and narrow margins.

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Published in Figaro, Offshore

Published in Figaro

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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.