Leg 2 of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec - Preview
by La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec 24 May 08:14 BST
13 May - 7 June 2026
Tomorrow, Sunday, May 24, 36 solo sailors will once again set off on a sprint that could well feel like a long offshore migration under sail. Light weather conditions along the Iberian coast and across the Bay of Biscay are set to make life difficult for the sailors once again.
The start will be given at 4:00 PM from the Vigo ria, before the fleet heads towards Pornichet, the finish of this second leg. With 450 nautical miles to cover in fading and unstable winds, suspense is likely to last all the way to the finish line in Loire-Atlantique.
Although this new leg is expected to be the shortest of the 57th edition of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec, it could still prove particularly challenging for the sailors at sea. Weather conditions in the area remain highly unstable and far from ideal for high speeds. Competitors will need patience and remarkable determination to escape the many traps scattered along the course. The Galician coastline, renowned for the complexity of its weather forecasts, is once again set to add spice and suspense to the opening hours of racing. Between coastal effects and thermal variations caused by the rugged terrain ashore, sailors are already hard at work trying to analyse the best possible strategy. Saturday's Météo Consult briefing for the skippers will undoubtedly be a key moment in that analysis.
Yann Chateau, Race Director of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec, analyses the situation
"We should see quite significant air mass instability at the start. We are hoping for a light thermal westerly flow, which appears on quite a few models. There is also a strong possibility that we will encounter small storm cells that could disrupt the wind. If everything goes according to plan, we will start at 4 PM from deep inside the Vigo ria. The coastal course should last between 1 hour 20 minutes and 1 hour 30 minutes up to the entrance of the ria, where the skippers will begin beating upwind. The spectacle should be magnificent, just like last year. After that, the fleet will head north along the Galician coast in rather light winds with fairly slow progress. Then comes the crossing of the Bay of Biscay, which should take place in a north-easterly breeze evolving towards the end of the course, although the forecast models are not all in agreement. The leg will be short in distance but probably long in duration. "
Is this a leg profile that could create tactical options and different choices?
"It's certain that from the very first night, sailors will have to deal with more than just weather models and standard routing patterns, because there will be many effects caused by the Spanish terrain and many thermal phenomena, both during the day and at night. I think the course should be really interesting. We could see the fleet spread out a little more than on the first leg. It's possible that during this second leg, skippers will take more options with larger gaps opening within the fleet," analysed Yann Chateau.
Staying on course to avoid punishment
On this kind of leg, skippers know only too well that rankings can change dramatically in a very short time. Two years ago, Tom Dolan managed to break away along the Spanish coast and build the foundations of his future overall victory there. But nothing can be taken for granted, because sometimes just a few metres can make the difference: a slightly stronger breeze can allow one sailor to escape and build a gap that proves impossible to close. Katabatic winds could be a lifeline for some competitors — provided they manage to identify them correctly.
Nothing is decided yet, and everything remains to be done. Once again, the Bay of Biscay will provide the stage for magnificent offshore battles between the 36 skippers. What is certain is that this revitalising stopover in Vigo has given the sailors a welcome energy boost for the rest of the competition.
See you at the first mark!
Back to racing for Martin Carnot aboard Fondation Lejeune
We last saw him in Brest after an emergency tow across the English Channel, but following a lightning-fast technical stop managed brilliantly by his team, Martin Carnot achieved the seemingly impossible: reaching Vigo in time to start Leg 2.
"I've been through a lot emotionally over the past week. I didn't think I'd be back in time for Vigo — I was aiming more for Pornichet — but an incredible chain of support came together. We managed to find a mast that was stored at Iroise Gréement in Brest. After a lot of work to reinstall the electronics, spreaders and aerials, we were able to put everything back together. The delivery trip was quite long and under engine. Now I need to rest and switch back into race mode. I spent so much time building this project, finding sponsors and doing everything possible to be on the start line, that it couldn't end like that. I'm super happy to be back and can't wait to get going. "
How to follow the start of Leg 2
Official start: 4:00 PM
From 3:25 PM onwards, you can follow the start of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec on the race website, letelegramme.fr, Ouest-France.fr, on replay via TF1+ and Canal+.
On TV: Figaro TV and Tébéo/Tébésud
On social media: Facebook of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec
On YouTube: La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec channel