La Solitaire du Figaro Leg 2 Update: Dolan makes western gamble in leg two
by Tom Dolan Racing 18 Sep 2025 10:40 BST
18 September 2025
Tom Dolan makes western gamble in Solitaire du Figaro Leg 2 © Tom Dolan Racing
Offshore racing is about making educated guesses. You read the forecast, make your plan and sail to it.
Wednesday evening saw Kingspan skipper Tom Dolan heading west in search of a line of wind that was forecast. In an evening instagram post he acknowledged it was a risky bet, and nerve-wracking because he couldn't see the bulk of the fleet, but it was a classic strategic trade-off: a longer distance to sail, but based on what the weather charts said, he'd be doing it in significantly more breeze than the group who headed east. If the forecast held, it was reasonable to assume that Dolan would sail the longer distance faster than the group in light airs would be able to sail the shorter distance. If the forecast held.
The forecast did not hold.
A pattern of wind filled in from the east to power the eastern group towards the north-western tip of Spain, meaning the group that hitched their fortunes to the line of breeze out west faced a double challenge - longer route, less breeze.
With 190 nautical miles (350km) to the finish, Dolan is 56 nautical miles (103km) behind the leader. Luck will have to swing significantly his way to close that large gap, and with the race committee eyeing a shortened course, it seems likely Dolan will have even less time to reel them in.
Nothing is decided until the finish line, everything can change in a very short space of time, so for now, every knot of boat speed counts.
Charlotte Yven, who hedged her bets with a course down the middle, holds a slim lead over rookie skipper Hugo Cardon. They both enjoy a cushion of more than seven miles to the chasing bunch, which includes overall leader Alexis Loison.
Where is Tom Dolan / Kingspan?
- Leaderboard Position: 33rd
- Distance to Finish: 190 nautical miles (350 kms)
- Distance to Leader: 56 nautical miles (103 kms)