Dolan Faces Challenging Figaro Race in Leg Two Near Vigo

19th September 2025

Afloat.ie Team

Tom Dolan navigates challenging waters as he races towards Vigo, currently standing in 30th position with 69 nautical miles left.

The competition heats up as Irish skipper Tom Dolan navigates the second leg of the Figaro race. Light winds marked day four, with the leading boats approaching Vigo, about 40 nautical miles away.

Dolan has closed the gap, reducing his distance from the leaders by over 50 miles overnight. However, he remains 28 nautical miles behind the leader and sits in 30th place.

The strategy shifts as Dolan's westerly route through the Bay of Biscay limits his options. He faces a tough challenge, having to pass through a mandatory gate that forces him closer to shore.

As he prepares for the final stretch, Dolan must rely on his mental strength and resilience. The first boats are expected in Vigo around sunset on Friday, with attention turning to the leaderboard's cumulative times.

Dolan's focus will soon shift to the return leg north, which begins on Sunday.

Published in Tom Dolan, Figaro

Published in Tom Dolan

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Tom Dolan

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Tom Dolan, Solo Offshore Sailor

Even when County Meath solo sailor Tom Dolan had been down the numbers in the early stages of the four-stage 2,000 mile 2020 Figaro Race, Dolan and his boat were soon eating their way up through the fleet in any situation which demanded difficult tactical decisions.

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.