Tom Dolan aims to keep on improving at the Solo Maître CoQ

Figaro Beneteau 3 Smurfit Kappa-Kingspan © Vincent Olivaud

After a brief recovery at home, returned from Guadeloupe and the crewed Class40 Niji 40 Transatlantic race on which he finished fourth as part of an international trio, Irish skipper Tom Dolan is back in action this week on his Figaro Beneteau 3 Smurfit Kappa-Kingspan.

From Tuesday until Saturday he will compete out of Les Sables d'Olonne in the Solo Maître CoQ, the second of five events counting for the 2024 French Elite Offshore Racing Championship.

"The crewed transatlantic race was really a great experience for me. It was really re-energizing. It was a real breath of fresh air but here I am, super happy to be back on my own boat now today, even if it seems very small to me!" grins Dolan.

Racing starts Tuesday at 1100hrs local time out of the famous Vendée marina.

"I'm ready even my legs still a little weak after so much time on the boat. But conditions look fairly calm for the first two days but with a lot to play for. It promises to be interesting," says Dolan.

There are two coastal courses of around twenty miles Thursday's 390-mile offshore race on the Bay of Biscay.

"My objective is to make good starts especially as it looks set to be light and there is a lot to be lost over these first two races. And there does seem to be a risk of the racing being a bit follow my leader with few strategic options." Says Dolan who finished sixth overall last year.

"The idea is obviously to be able to do better this year." He concludes.