Flotte Solitaire du Figaro 2011 Dún Laoghaire 1

The Solitaire du Figaro, previously called the Course de l'Aurore, is a

solo Solo or SOLO may refer to: Arts and entertainment Comics * ''Solo'' (DC Comics), a DC comics series * Solo, a 1996 mini-series from Dark Horse Comics Characters * Han Solo, a ''Star Wars'' character * Jacen Solo, a Jedi in the non-canonical ''S ...

multi-stage sailing race created in 1970 by Jean-Louis Guillemard and . The unique character of the race, the presence of great solo sailors and its being open to amateurs, has made it one of the most cherished races in French sailing.

History

From 1970 to 1979 the race was organised by the newspaper ''

L'Aurore ''L’Aurore'' (; ) was a literary, liberal, and socialist newspaper published in Paris, France, from 1897 to 1914. Its most famous headline was Émile Zola's '' J'Accuse...!'' leading into his article on the Dreyfus Affair. The newspaper w ...

''. In 1980 the daily newspaper ''

Le Figaro ''Le Figaro'' () is a French daily morning newspaper founded in 1826. It is headquartered on Boulevard Haussmann in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. The oldest national newspaper in France, ''Le Figaro'' is one of three French newspapers of r ...

'' bought out ''L'Aurore'' and became the principal sponsor of the event. From 2003, the eyewear company was an associate sponsor. The official name of the race became ''La Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro''. Since 2008, the motor manufacturer

Suzuki is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Minami-ku, Hamamatsu, Japan. Suzuki manufactures automobiles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal co ...

replaced them, and the race became named ''La Solitaire du Figaro Suzuki''. Since 2011 the title sponsor of the race has been

Éric Bompard Éric Bompard SA is a French high-fashion cashmere wool goods manufacturer established in 1984. History Éric Bompard, an entrepreneur and former computer technician, created the company in 1984 following a trip to Asia where he learned about ...

Cachemire, a French fashion house specialising in cashmere garments. The characteristics of the race are: * It starts around the end of July from a French port. * The race is split into 4 stages varying from year to year, from the length of the French coast and making up a total of around on average. Over the years the race has lasted between 10 and 13 days at sea. * The competitor is alone in the boat, participation is mixed. * Since 1990, all boats are of one design.

Boats

In early races, boats were all from the same series. Since 1980, the race used prototype half-tonners. In 1991, the Solitaire du Figaro made the milestone of becoming a One-Design race. The race organisers chose the '' Bénéteau Figaro'' (later called the ''Figaro Bénéteau I'') designed by

Group Finot Group Finot is a French boat design company based in Jouy-en-Josas. Founded by Jean-Marie Finot, the company specializes in the design of fiberglass sailboats. The company also collaborates with designer Pascal Conq as ''Groupe Finot - Conq' ...

and Jean Berret. Since 2003, a new design called ''

Bénéteau Figaro 2 Beneteau or Bénéteau () is a French sail and motor boat manufacturer, with production facilities in France and in the United States. The company is a large and recognized boat builder, commanding a substantial worldwide market, with its holdi ...

'' has been used, a modernised, more powerful version.

Past winners

Results

''All places are in France unless otherwise stated.''

2003

: 1st stage:

Les Sables-d'Olonne Les Sables-d'Olonne (; French meaning: "The Sands of Olonne"; Poitevin: ''Lés Sablles d'Oloune'') is a seaside town in Western France, on the Atlantic Ocean. A subprefecture of the department of Vendée, Pays de la Loire, it has the adminis ...

–

Getxo Getxo () is a town located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country, in Spain. It is part of Greater Bilbao, and has 77,946 inhabitants (2019). Getxo is mostly an affluent residential area, as well as being th ...

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(

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , ...

) : 2nd stage: Getxo/Bilbao –

La Rochelle La Rochelle (, , ; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''La Rochéle''; oc, La Rochèla ) is a city on the west coast of France and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Charente-Maritime department. Wi ...

: 3rd stage: La Rochelle –

Dingle Dingle ( Irish: ''An Daingean'' or ''Daingean Uí Chúis'', meaning "fort of Ó Cúis") is a town in County Kerry, Ireland. The only town on the Dingle Peninsula, it sits on the Atlantic coast, about southwest of Tralee and northwest of Kill ...

(Ireland) : 4th stage: Dingle –

Saint-Nazaire Saint-Nazaire (; ; Gallo: ''Saint-Nazère/Saint-Nazaer'') is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France, in traditional Brittany. The town has a major harbour on the right bank of the Loire estuary, near the Atlantic Ocea ...

– 1979 nmi * Overall results: :#

Armel Le Cléac'h Armel Le Cléac’h () is a French professional navigator and sea captain. He was the IMOCA world champion in 2008 and French champion in single-handed yacht race in 2003, he notably won the Solitaire du Figaro twice (2003 and 2010), the Transat ...

(Créaline) in 327h 08min 19s :#

Alain Gautier Alain Gautier (born 8 May 1962, in Lorient) is a French professional offshore sailor. He is best known for winning the 1992–1993 Vendée Globe. He currently heads Lanic Sport Development which was founded in 1989, specializing in the preparatio ...

(Foncia) +13s :# Michel Desjoyeaux (Géant) +1h 26min 17s 42 skippers started, 42 finished.

2004

: 1st stage:

Caen Caen (, ; nrf, Kaem) is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the department of Calvados. The city proper has 105,512 inhabitants (), while its functional urban area has 470,000,Portsmouth Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is administered by Portsmouth City Council. Portsmouth is the most d ...

(England) : 2nd stage: Portsmouth –

Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie () is a commune in the Vendée department, region of Pays de la Loire, western France. It is situated on the Côte de Lumière. The community originated in 1967 from the unification of two communities on either side ...

: 3rd stage: Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie – Gijón (Spain) : 4th stage: Gijon –

Quiberon Quiberon (; , ) is a commune in the French department of Morbihan, administrative region of Brittany, western France. It is situated on the southern part of the Quiberon peninsula, the northern part being the commune of Saint-Pierre-Quiberon. It ...

– 1373 nmi 51 competitors. * Overall results: :#

Charles Caudrelier Charles Caudrelier (born 26 February 1974) is a French sailor who has sailed in multiple Volvo Ocean Races. Born in Paris and raised in Brittany, Caudrelier is a merchant navy officer. He won the Solitaire du Figaro, a solo race, in 2004 and al ...

(Bostik Findley) in 220h 53min 54s :# (Groupe Generali Assurances) +52min 35s :#

Jérémie Beyou Jérémie Beyou is a French professional Offshore sailor born on 27 June 1976 in Landivisiau (Finistère). He is a member of C N Lorient Sailing Club. He won the Solitaire du Figaro three times in 2005, 2011 and 2014 and was crowned French cham ...

(Delta Dore) +1h 24min 35s 52 skippers started, 52 finished.

2005

:1st stage:

Perros-Guirec Perros-Guirec (; br, Perroz-Gireg) is a commune in the department of Côtes-d'Armor in Brittany. It has been a seaside resort since the end of the 19th century. Geography Climate Perros-Guirec has a oceanic climate ( Köppen climate classificat ...

–

Bilbao ) , motto = , image_map = , mapsize = 275 px , map_caption = Interactive map outlining Bilbao , pushpin_map = Spain Basque Country#Spain#Europe , pushpin_map_caption ...

(Spain) – 390 nmi : 2nd stage: Getxo-Bilbao –

– 368 nmi : 3rd stage: La Rochelle –

Cork Cork or CORK may refer to: Materials * Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product ** Cork (plug), a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container ***Wine cork Places Ireland * Cork (city) ** Metropolitan Cork, also known as G ...

(Ireland) – 456 nmi : 4th stage: Cork –

Talmont-Saint-Hilaire Talmont-Saint-Hilaire () is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France. The commune was formed by the merger of the former communes of Talmont and Saint-Hilaire-de-Talmont in 1974. Richard I of England o ...

– 496 nmi * Overall results: :#

(Delta Dore) in 248h 49min 20s :# Michel Desjoyeaux (Géant) +1h 20min 54s :#

Kito de Pavant Christophe Fourcault de Pavant (born 23 February 1961 in Saint-Pardoux-la-Rivière in the Dordogne Dordogne ( , or ; ; oc, Dordonha ) is a large rural department in Southwestern France, with its prefecture in Périgueux. Located in th ...

(Groupe Bel) +1h 58min 41s :#

Gildas Morvan Gildas Morvan (born 31 July 1968) is a sailor from France. who represented his country at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Savannah, United States as crew member in the Soling The Soling is an open keelboat that holds the World Sailing " Interna ...

(Cercle Vert) +2h 17min 9s :# (Groupe Generali Assurances) +2h 24min 22s :# (Cliptol Sport) +2h 29min 45s :# (Brossard) +2h 35min 53s :# Pietro d'Ali (Nanni Diesel) +3h 5min 12s, first newcomer :# (Thales) +3h 13min 3s :#

(Bostik) +3h 18min 57s 46 skippers started, 42 finished.

2006

:1st stage:

Cherbourg-Octeville Cherbourg-Octeville () is a former commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France.

– Santander (Spain) – 590 nmi :2nd stage: Santander –

– 314 nmi :3rd stage: Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie –

(Ireland) – 549 nmi :4th stage: Dingle –

Concarneau Concarneau (, meaning ''Bay of Cornouaille'') is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France. Concarneau is bordered to the west by the Baie de La Forêt. The town has two distinct areas: the modern town on the ...

– 449 nmi Started 6 August 2006, with 44 competitors. * Overall results: :#

Nicolas Troussel Nicolas Troussel is a French professional offshore sailor born on 11 May 1974 in Morlaix (Finistère Finistère (, ; br, Penn-ar-Bed ) is a department of France in the extreme west of Brittany. In 2019, it had a population of 915,090.< ...

(Financo) in 297h 01min 56s :# (Littoral) +1h 56min 55s :# (Scutum) +3h 55min 28s :#

(Brit Air) +5h 20min 20s :# (Groupe Generali assurances) +6h 33min 07s :#

(Bostik) +6h 57min 50s :# (Iceberg Finance) +6h 58min 36s :# Oliver Krauss (AXA Plaisance) +7h 21min 53s :# Eric Drouglazet (Pixmania.com) +7h 49min 08s :#

(Groupe Bel) +7h 58min 03s

2007

Started 29 July 2007, with 50 competitors. : 1st stage:

Caen Caen (, ; nrf, Kaem) is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the department of Calvados. The city proper has 105,512 inhabitants (), while its functional urban area has 470,000,Crosshaven Crosshaven () is a village in County Cork, Ireland. It is located in lower Cork Harbour at the mouth of the River Owenabue, across from Currabinny Wood. Originally a fishing village, from the 19th century, the economy of the area became more re ...

(Ireland) – 425 nmi : 2nd stage: Crosshaven- Brest – 344 nmi : 3rd stage: Brest –

A Coruña A Coruña (; es, La Coruña ; historical English: Corunna or The Groyne) is a city and municipality of Galicia, Spain. A Coruña is the most populated city in Galicia and the second most populated municipality in the autonomous community and ...

(Spain) – (shortened to 542 nmi) : 4th stage: A Coruña –

– 355 nmi After ten competitions, Michel Desjoyeaux was the third French sailor to win his third Figaro race, this one being marked by strong winds (as much as in the last two stages which crossed the Gulf of Gascogne. * Overall results: :# Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) in 247h 20min 47sec :# (Distinxion) +26 min 38s :# (Leclerc/Bouygues Telecom) +1h 03min 50s :#

(Financo) +1h 41min 26s :# (Le Comptoir Immobilier) +2h 14min 23s :# Eric Drouglazet (Luisina) +2h 39min 05s :# Gérald Veniard (Scutum) +3h 16min 53s :#

(Cercle Vert) +3h 19min 48s :#

Thomas Rouxel Thomas Rouxel (born 26 May 1991) is a French badminton player affiliated with Chambly Oise club. In 2016, he won the silver medal at the European Men's Team Championships in Kazan, Russia. Career Rouxel helped the team to win silver in the ...

(Défi Mousquetaires) +3h 29min 34s :# (Rapid’Flore Caen-La-Mer) +4h 01min 11s in ''Bostik'' finished first newcomer in 14th place.

2008

Started 25 July 2008, with 50 competitors. : 1st stage:

–

Vigo Vigo ( , , , ) is a city and municipality in the province of Pontevedra, within the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain. Located in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, it sits on the southern shore of an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean, the ...

(Spain) – shortened to 320 nmi : 2nd stage: Vigo –

Cherbourg-Octeville Cherbourg-Octeville () is a former commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France.

– 575 nmi : 3rd stage: Cherbourg-Octeville – l'

Aber Wrac'h The Aber Wrac'h is a small village and port located on the river Wrac'h in the commune of Landéda in the department of Finistère in France, located in Brittany. The Wrac'h's source is in Trémaouézan. It travels through Ploudaniel, Le Folg ...

– (shortened to 471 nmi) * Overall results: :#

(Financo) in 226h 32min 51sec :#

(Cercle Vert) +2h 22min 15sec :# (Distinxion) +3h 34min 38s :# (Athema) +3h 53min 57sec :# (Banque Populaire) +4h 54min 50sec :# (DCNS 97) 4h 55min 37s :# (KONE Ascenceurs) +5h 03min 54s :# (Le Comptoir Immobilier) +5h 52min 27s :# (Docteur Valnet aromathérapie) +5h 52min 46s :# (SUZUKI Automobiles) +6h 23min 08s

François Gabart François Gabart (born 23 March 1983 in Saint-Michel-d'Entraygues, France) is a French professional offshore yacht racer who won the 2012-13 Vendée Globe in 78 days 2 hours 16 minutes, setting a new race record. In 2017 he set the speed record ...

in ''Espoir Région Bretagne'' finished first newcomer in 16th place.

won a race marked by a windless first stage in which he "" ("killed the race", leading to the

neologism A neologism Ancient_Greek.html"_;"title="_from_Ancient_Greek">Greek_νέο-_''néo''(="new")_and_λόγος_/''lógos''_meaning_"speech,_utterance"is_a_relatively_recent_or_isolated_term,_word,_or_phrase_that_may_be_in_the_process_of_entering_com ...

"Do a Troussel", in french: faire une Troussel) by arriving six hours ahead. It was his second victory in the race.

2009

Started 30 July 2009 for the 40th race, with 52 competitors. : 1st stage:

Lorient Lorient (; ) is a town ('' commune'') and seaport in the Morbihan department of Brittany in western France. History Prehistory and classical antiquity Beginning around 3000 BC, settlements in the area of Lorient are attested by the presen ...

–

(Spain) – 345 nmi : 2nd stage:

–

365 nmi : 3rd stage:

(Ireland) – 485 nmi : 4th stage:

Dieppe Dieppe (; Norman: ''Dgieppe'') is a coastal commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy region of northern France. Dieppe is a seaport on the English Channel at the mouth of the river Arques. A regular ferry service runs to N ...

– 511 nmi * Overall results: :# (CGPI) in 285h 56min 55s :# (Generali) +20min 29s :# (Bbox Bouygues Télécom) +26min 14s

2017

Starting on 4 June 2017 from

Pauillac Pauillac (; oc, Paulhac) is a municipality in the Gironde department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France. The city is mid-way between Bordeaux and the Pointe de Grave, along the Gironde, the largest estuary in western Europe. Populati ...

, France the 48th edition of the race commenced with 43 competitors: 36 French, 3 British, 1 Swiss, 1 Turkish, 1 Czech and 1 American – a split of 37 men and 6 women skippers took on the challenge. * 1st stage:

– Gijon (Spain) – 525 nmi * 2nd stage: Gijon –

– 520 nmi * 3rd stage:

–

– 120 nmi * 4th stage:

–

– 505 nmi * Overall results: # (Generali) in 247h 8min 52s # Adrien Hardy (Agir Recouvrement) +34min 32s # Charlie Dalin (Skipper Macif 2015) +22min 29s * Rookie prize – Julien Pulve (Team Vendee Formation) in 249h 44min 45s * Amateur prize �
Hugh BrayshawThe Offshore Academy
in 253h 57min 28s

References

External links

Official website
{{Offshore sailing races Sailing competitions in France Sailing competitions in Spain Sailing competitions in Ireland Single-handed sailing competitions