Tom Dolan in Lead Pack in Second Leg of Solitaire du Figaro

16th September 2025

Afloat.ie Team

Tom Dolan navigates the challenging waters of the Bay of Biscay, leading the pack in the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec

Tom Dolan, the Irish Sailor of the Year, is currently leading the second leg of the Solitaire du Figaro. With 385 miles remaining to Vigo, Spain, his position is strong.

The race began with challenging conditions, featuring winds over 20 knots and rough seas of up to five metres. After an intense start, the fleet navigated through the intermediate sprint gate and is now crossing the Bay of Biscay.

Dolan's Kingspan team occupies the eastern edge of a compact leading pack, spread across six miles. Although Alexis Thomas led through the sprint gate, Dolan remains in contention for the lead.

Race conditions are expected to change, with the wind easing and shifting to the south. This alteration will require tactical adjustments from the sailors as they continue upwind.

Dolan is in sixth position overall after a great comeback in the closing stages of the first leg last week as Afloat reported here.

Published in Tom Dolan, Figaro

Published in Tom Dolan

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His fifth overall at the finish – the highest-placed non-French sailor and winner of the Vivi Cup – had him right among the international elite in one of 2020's few major events.

The 33-year-old who has lived in Concarneau, Brittany since 2009 but grew up on a farm in rural County Meath came into the gruelling four-stage race aiming to get into the top half of the fleet and to underline his potential to Irish sailing administrators considering the selection process for the 2024 Olympic Mixed Double Offshore category which comes in for the Paris games.