Please select your home edition
Edition
Musto 2023 Hikers LEADERBOARD

Defending Champ Tom Dolan in leading bunch in the La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec

by Tom Dolan Racing 8 Sep 10:10 BST 8 September 2025
Tom Dolan - La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec © Vincent Olivaud

Kingspan-sponsored Flying Irishman Tom Dolan is in the leading edge of the pack after the first night at sea in La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec, as the 34 skippers head north-west towards the Skerries Bank Buoy off the Cornwall coast.

A tricky night of upwind sailing in the English Channel split the fleet at times, meaning the leaderboard was a poor guide to who was actually out front. The top ten boats are separated by less than a mile after 130 miles of sailing, meaning those ten skippers are likely to round the Skerries Bank Buoy in a tight bunch, with nearly 500 miles left in the race.

Once around Skerries, the fleet will turn downwind for a full-throttle drag race in medium to high winds to the Daffodils mark off Dieppe, which marks the location of the wreck of the HMS Daffodil, sunk by a mine during WW2. Then it's a tactical zig-zag hugging the north coast of France to the next turning point near Cherbourg.

This revised Leg One course sees the fleet criss-crossing the English Channel and its busy commercial traffic several times, leaving little opportunity for sleep or rest of any kind as the sailors dodge tankers, ferries, fishing boats and other craft. It's a long, demanding leg where experience and resilience will be the key factors as the racers are forced to change gears repeatedly and manage their fatigue to make smart decisions at every turn.

Distance To Finish: 505 miles
Position: 8th (0.5 miles from leader)
Next turning point: Skerries Bank Buoy, off Cornwall - 16 miles away

Related Articles

Erica Lush finishes La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec
A major accomplishment for American offshore sailing American offshore sailor Erica Lush crossed the finish line of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec 2025's third leg Friday, officially completing one of the world's most prestigious solo offshore sailing regattas. Posted on 26 Sep
A true attraction for non-French skippers
Hard work, training, and perseverance in the 56th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec The excellence of the French solo racing pathway is increasingly attracting non-French skippers who want to come, learn, and train in a discipline that, for now, remains very French. Posted on 25 Sep
Tom Dolan retires from Solitaire du Figaro
Flying Irishman injured his arm just one hour into the opening stage Reigning Solitaire du Figaro Paprec champion Tom Dolan confirmed this morning that he will withdraw from the third and final leg of the solo offshore race due to an injury sustained early in Leg One. Posted on 21 Sep
Tom Dolan at Solitaire du Figaro Leg 2 Day 4
For the Irish skipper there's good news and bad news Day four of leg two started in light airs for most of the fleet. The leading bunch have passed Cape Finisterre, funneling through a mandatory checkpoint gate added by the race committee, and are closing in Vigo, around 40 miles to the south east. Posted on 19 Sep
Dolan makes western gamble in Solitaire du Figaro
Currently 56 nautical miles (103km) behind the leader Offshore racing is about making educated guesses. You read the forecast, make your plan and sail to it. Posted on 18 Sep
56th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec Leg 2 day 3
Advantage to the Southerners On this second leg of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec 2025, between the Bay of Morlaix and Vigo in Spain, two options have taken shape over the past hours. Posted on 17 Sep
Dolan charges on in La Solitaire du Figaro Leg 2
The Kingspan skipper led a group that tacked out west around sunset As the second morning of Leg Two dawns, it's all about positioning out in the Bay of Biscay for the fleet of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec. Posted on 17 Sep
Dolan at front of the pack in Solitaire du Figaro
The fleet are now crossing the Bay of Biscay in Leg 2 Irish sailor Tom Dolan is on the leading edge of the pack in the second leg of the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec, with 385 miles (~710 kilometres) remaining in the leg that will finish in Vigo, in northern Spain. Posted on 16 Sep
56th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec Leg 2 start
After a 30-hour delay, the 34 sailors were finally able to head out to sea After a 30-hour delay, the 34 sailors competing in La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec 2025 were finally able to head out to sea and face the elements. At 7 p.m. this Monday, September 15, the starting gun was fired. Posted on 15 Sep
Dolan continues Figaro campaign despite injury
Leg 2 of the Solitaire du Figaro is set to start on Monday evening, after a 24-hour delay Irish Offshore Sailor Tom Dolan starts Leg 2 of the Solitaire du Figaro on Monday evening, after a 24-hour delay due to extreme winds. The 900km leg, delayed to allow dangerous sea conditions to ease, takes the fleet across the Bay of Biscay to Vigo. Posted on 15 Sep