Irish offshore sailor Tom Dolan has won the opening leg of the 2026 La Solitaire du Figaro after an intense four-day battle across the Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay.
According to provisional results on the race tracker, the Meath sailor crossed the finish line at 06:51 French time on Thursday morning aboard Kingspan after leading the fleet for much of the previous 24 hours. Dolan briefly surrendered the lead to French rival Nicolas Lunven before regaining control during the decisive stages off Cape Finisterre.
The official leaderboard showed Dolan completing Leg One in 3 days, 20 hours, 21 minutes and 36 seconds. France’s Loïs Berrehar crossed the line 37 minutes and 34 seconds later, underlining the strength of the Irish sailor’s final push. Paul Morvan completed the podium in third.
Leaderboard Glory — Ireland’s Tom Dolan tops the official La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec standings after winning the opening leg aboard Kingspan following a fierce Atlantic duel with Nicolas Lunven
Dolan’s victory marks another major result in the French solo offshore classic following his overall victory in the 2024 edition.
The opening leg proved relentless from the outset. Strong upwind conditions, heavy seas and constant tactical pressure stretched the 35-skipper fleet from the English Channel to the Spanish coast.
Earlier in the race, Dolan had edged ahead near Finisterre while Lunven remained locked in close pursuit. The pair traded the lead several times in one of the tightest battles of the race.
Race organisers also announced a major course amendment as deteriorating weather developed along the Spanish coast.
Competitors were informed that the original course would be shortened to a new gate positioned at 42°55.000 N, 009°24.000 W and 42°55.000 N, 009°25.000 W.
The revised routing was introduced due to “particularly poor weather conditions expected over the next few days” off northern Spain.
After passing through the gate, competitors are expected to complete a controlled motor passage to Vigo accompanied by race support vessels and Race Control RIBs.
The fleet is expected to reach Vigo around eight hours after clearing the new gate.
The opening leg also saw an early retirement when rookie skipper Marin Carnot dismasted near Wolf Rock off Cornwall after suffering mast damage.
Despite the punishing conditions, Dolan remained consistently among the front group throughout the race and timed his final push perfectly as the fleet closed on the Galician coast.
Kingspan’s social media team described Dolan’s performance as “an outstanding race, brilliantly sailed from start to finish” after the Meath sailor secured victory in the opening leg of the three-stage series.
With two legs still remaining, the result gives Dolan an early advantage but leaves the overall standings wide open heading deeper into the demanding offshore contest.
