URGO set to partner the Solitaire du Figaro for the next three years

La Solitaire Bompard Le Figaro Leg 4 start © Alexis Courcoux

URGO, a leading French healthcare group which specialises in advanced dressings and bandages for wound care and family medication, and OC Sport Pen Duick, experts in the organisation of ocean races, are proud to announce that URGO has become the Title Partner of the world's leading annual solo sailing race, La Solitaire du Figaro, for the next three editions (2017-2019).

The 48th edition of the race, which is known as the unofficial world championship of solo offshore sailing, will set sail on 4 June 2017 from Bordeaux under a new name, La Solitaire URGO Le Figaro.

A new logo, a new visual identity, and a new website (www.lasolitaire-urgo.com) are being unveiled for the occasion.

URGO became an Official Partner of the race in 2016, and will go a step further over the next three years, reinforcing its commitment as Title Partner.

Hervé Le Lous, President of URGO Group commented: "After the remarkable 2016 edition that the skippers have just given us, this choice seemed an obvious one. Taking part in this prestigious professional sailing competition is a source of great pride for URGO and our staff, and is a unique opportunity to support a sporting event that arouses a great deal of interest."

La Solitaire URGO Le Figaro is a 2,000 mile solo ocean race, that in 2017 will consist of four legs. It is the ultimate annual sailing endurance race, which brings only the very best single-handed offshore sailors to its start line.

Pierre Moustial, Managing Director of URGO Group, added: "We are very pleased to be associated with La Solitaire du Figaro. The values embodied by sailing such as bravery, tenacity, and determination are values that we share. This partnership also represents an excellent vehicle for promoting the innovative projects of URGO Group, in wound treatment, wound-heating, compression, and also family medication or connected healthcare."

For URGO, the extreme conditions of La Solitaire du Figaro are a perfect environment in which to test and develop its healthcare products in areas such as adhesiveness, antifriction and pain relief.

URGO will supply its products to the solo skippers, conduct campaigns with the general public in the Race Villages, and involve local healthcare professionals at the various stages of the race.

In 2016, URGO Group launched a self-adhesive strip for stopping bleeding, "SOS Cuts", designed in the shape of a lifebelt.

URGO will benefit from the expertise and experience of OC Sport Pen Duick, a major player in professional sailing, both in France and internationally. Mathieu Sarrot, Events Director at OC Sport Pen Duick commented: "Firstly, I would like to thank Eric Bompard Cachemire, which stood alongside us for five years as title partner and enabled us to make the race grow.

"After a year as Official Partner in 2016, we are delighted to have URGO Group on board La Solitaire as Title Partner. We can find many parallels between La Solitaire and URGO Group. URGO continuously seeks to innovate in its sector while our sport is continuously evolving, and thereby serving yachting and sailing generally.

"The partnership with URGO Group will enable us to develop the event up to 2019 when a new one-design boat will be introduced – the Figaro Bénéteau 3, created by the Figaro class and by boatbuilders Bénéteau. 2019 will mark the 50th anniversary of the race, and we are thrilled to share that journey with URGO," Sarot concluded.

La Solitaire URGO Le Figaro will set sail on 4 June 2017 from Bordeaux.