Tom Dolan Begins New Figaro Challenge Off Brittany

17th May 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Fleet Focus — Ireland’s Tom Dolan powers through the opening miles of the 57th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec as the fleet headed offshore from Perros-Guirec towards Vigo Credit: Thomas Campion

Ireland’s Tom Dolan launched his latest La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec campaign on Sunday as the 57th edition of the solo offshore classic got underway from Perros-Guirec in Brittany. The Kingspan skipper joined a fleet of 36 sailors for the opening leg towards Vigo in Spain, following a fast-paced coastal course around the Sept-Îles and Ploumanac’h coastline.

Racing began in ideal conditions with around 10 knots of breeze and relatively calm seas, allowing the fleet to settle quickly into the opening miles of one of offshore racing’s toughest tests.

Race Spread — The 36-boat fleet fans out after the start of the opening La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec stage from Perros-Guirec towards Vigo, Spain. Photo: Vincent Olivaud

French skipper Loïs Berrehar aboard Banque Populaire led the fleet at the first ranking point and claimed the Paprec Trophy after completing the opening coastal section ahead of Arno Biston and Édouard Golbery. The fleet is now heading northwest towards Wolf Rock off Cornwall, before a forecast low-pressure system brings tougher conditions early this week.

Dolan, the 2024 race winner, said he was ready for the challenge ahead despite the demanding forecast. “The boat is perfect, the team too — everything’s spot on,” he said. “The weather and the conditions maybe a little less so, but that doesn’t bother me. The main thing is to enjoy it.”

Close Quarters — Tight racing developed early as the Figaro fleet settled into fast reaching conditions during the opening coastal section off Brittany. Photo: Thomas Campion

Competitors face a strategic balancing act in the early stages of the race, managing energy and sleep before the more testing weather arrives.

Loïs Berrehar, among the early frontrunners, said consistency would be key. “We’ll need to be good everywhere,” he said. “I’m going to give it everything — I’m fully ready for this great challenge.”

The opening leg is expected to produce major shifts in the standings as sailors tackle changing weather systems and long upwind stretches before reaching Vigo.

Published in Tom Dolan

Tagged under

About The Author

Afloat.ie Team

Email The Author

Afloat.ie is Ireland's dedicated marine journalism team.

Have you got a story for our reporters? Email us here.

We've got a favour to ask

More people are reading Afloat.ie than ever thanks to the power of the internet but we're in stormy seas because advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news sites, we haven't put up a paywall because we want to keep our marine journalism open.

Afloat.ie is Ireland's only full-time marine journalism team and it takes time, money and hard work to produce our content.

So you can see why we need to ask for your help.

If everyone chipped in, we can enhance our coverage and our future would be more secure. You can help us through a small donation. Thank you.