Ireland’s Tom Dolan remains firmly in contention as the split fleets in the second leg of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec begin to regroup offshore. Dolan, racing on Kingspan, held his position among the leading pack as changing weather conditions reshuffled the leaderboard across the fleet of 35 solo sailors.

The major mover was Adrien Hardy on Sans Nature, pas de Futur !, who surged from 34th to first place in less than 24 hours after a successful offshore tactical move.

Calm evening conditions onboard during La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec as Tom Dolan and rival skippers prepare for another tactical shift. Photo: Laure Galley

At the latest ranking update, Dolan was among a tightly packed top group as sailors from the southern fleet climbed into the top 10. Britain’s Ellie Driver on STEM on the Startline rose to sixth, while Oliver Hill on Nautica by Ollie Hill Racing moved into seventh.

The race has tested competitors with thunderstorms, fog, squalls and long periods of light wind.

Several sailors reported exhaustion after difficult overnight conditions.

Léo Bothorel on Decathlon, currently among the frontrunners, said the fleet regrouping had transformed the race dynamic. “I decided to put a bit more north into my route, and it’s working pretty well,” he said. “It feels strange to see the other boats back on AIS.”

Spinnakers fill at sunset as the La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec fleet regroups after split tactical routes offshore. Photo: Thomas Campion

Paul Morvan on Foricher-French Touch said sleep deprivation was becoming a major challenge. “I managed to get a few good naps, which were essential because I was really close to the edge,” he said. “There are still two days left to try and close the gap.”

Arno Biston on Article.1 suffered damage after tearing his large spinnaker during thunderstorms. “I’m trying to repair it onboard, but it’s not easy,” he said.

Forecasts suggest light and unstable winds ahead along the Atlantic coast, with further tactical changes expected before the finish.