SOLITAIRE DU FIGARO : 2010 edition returns to Gijon and Kinsale

The 2010 edition of La Solitaire du Figaro will cover 1,717 nautical miles between ports both old and new to the race. There will be the return to Gijon and Kinsale, which will bring back memories that are part of the rich history of La Solitaire du Figaro. Between these two stages abroad, Le Havre will host the race start for the 41st edition for the first time. Brest and Cherbourg-Octeville will each host a stop-over once more.

The City of Le Havre will host La Solitaire du Figaro race for the very first time. With a long history and experience of hosting large-scale events, the Paul Vatine’s basin and its entire new infrastructure will undoubtedly provide all the facilities for a great start for the event from the 20th to the 27th July.

On July 27th the Figaro fleet will leave Le Havre for Gijon in Spain on a marathon 515 nautical mile leg, which will see the fleet sail on both the English Channel and the Atlantic Sea. The initial part of the leg will be technical as the fleet negotiate the approach to the Brittany headland, then Chenal du Four, Raz de Sein, Mullein Archipelago and Isle de Sein. The sailors will need to be vigilant and take particular care before the 270 mile crossing of the Bay of Biscay. “This first stage of the 41st edition of the race is the longest and probably the most demanding. This will be good warm up for the sailors who should be relatively fresh at the beginning of the race,” explains Jacques Caraës, the Race Director. With a history of hosting 10 previous editions of the race, Gijon is a landmark for La Solitaire. The fleet will take a few days rest before leaving Asturias on August 3rd on the 418-mile run to Brest.

The second leg up to Brest will not be so straightforward ; with a return crossing of the Bay of Biscay to negotiate and the SN1 mark to be left to port. Following this, there should be a beautiful sail along the south coast of Brittany, leaving the Croix Island to port before reaching Finistère. The last part of the course will be very strategic, particularly when passing the Bay of Audierne, followed by the passage of the Raz de Sein. These twenty miles are crucial and will require special attention as the sailors can either make up or lose ground depending on how they negotiate the tides. “The dangers multiply towards the end of this second leg after the sprint across the Bay of Biscay”, says Jacques Caraës, “and will no doubt keep the suspense going right to the end.” After having had a few days rest in Brittany, it will be time to leave the Port du Moulin Blanc on August 9th and head to the Irish town of Kinsale.

La Solitaire returns to the much-loved town of Kinsale for the 19th time in the 41-year history of the race. Although the event has not returned since 1997, it remains to this day, one of the greatest stopovers of the race. Relatively short at 349 miles, the 3rd stage of the race, will be nothing but easy. Upon leaving Brest harbour, the Figaro Bénéteau 2 fleet will head out into the Chenal du Four along the Portsall rock plateau. Then follows an 89 miles stretch along the English Channel up the Cornish coastline to Wolf Rock, which must be left to port. The fleet will converge at the legendary Fastnet Rock, which must be left to starboard, after the 165 mile stint across the Celtic Sea, before heading eastwards to Kinsale.

The 41st edition of the race will conclude in Cherbourg in Normandy on the fourth and final 435-mile leg.

 Press info Sabina Mollart-Rogerson / www.lasolitaire.com