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. Only Alexis Loison (Groupe REEL) was called back for a false start. The first miles of the course, out of the English Channel, will be highly demanding—between caution and the urge to fight for position. Once around the tip of Brittany, the race will take on a new dimension. Clear-headedness will be key in choosing the right trajectory, as the Bay of Biscay won’t give itself up easily. The final stretch will be the complete opposite of the punishing conditions currently endured. Once again, this leg is set to test both body and mind.
By late afternoon, excitement was palpable along the pontoons of the Bay of Morlaix. One by one, the sailors slipped their moorings and made their way to the start line, located in the eastern part of the bay. At 7 p.m., the race committee finally released the 34 solo skippers to continue their adventure. Alexis Loison (Groupe REEL) was penalised with a recall. The countdown is on and won’t stop until Vigo, after 486 nautical miles of racing promising many twists and turns—and, according to the sailors, significant time gaps at the finish.
A shortened inshore course for safety reasons
Traditionally, the start of each leg of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec features an inshore course designed to showcase the spectacle. Due to the weather conditions, however, the fleet headed straight north to exit the Bay of Morlaix. First to cross the longitude of the Île de Batz lighthouse, Arno Biston on Article.1 won the Paprec Trophy. The fleet then set course westward towards the Four Channel.
A tough few hours before turning south
“For the first 12 hours, the sailors will be pounding into head seas—very heavy conditions. There’s a strong westerly swell of around 4 metres in the Iroise Sea and off northern Finistère. With wind and sea from the west, the skippers will have to sail upwind. The first miles will be really rough—after that, things should ease,” explained Cyrille Duchesne of Météo Consult.
The first section between Île de Batz and the tip of Brittany won’t allow for much speed or tactical play. This evening and the upcoming night will therefore be particularly delicate for the sailors, who must find the right balance between performance and safety. “Keeping a low profile” was the mantra on the pontoons.
As the hours go by, the wind will gradually ease, and the tidal shift should flatten the sea slightly. In the Iroise Sea—crossed during the night—the sea will remain heavy. It’s only upon entering the Bay of Biscay that conditions will improve steadily.
They said:
Laure Galley (DMG MORI Academy): “Conditions will be tough, but with the second delay to the start, it won’t last long. It’s mainly the sea state that’s rough. Compared to the first leg, it shouldn’t be much different. We’ll need to stay sharp right to the end, with plenty of opportunities and possible reshuffles until the finish.”
Adrien Simon (FAUN): “We’ll need to watch out for the other boats and protect the equipment. The aim will be not to lose too much ground in this first part and to stay with the main group. The Bay of Biscay will be tricky, with lots of upwind sailing, and we’ll need to follow the weather closely to be in the right place. This leg could create big gaps at the finish and looks set to be both challenging and decisive.”
Titouan Marilley (Action Enfance – No Limit): “This will be a demanding leg, which may already sort things out from the start. Depending on how hard each sailor pushes themselves and their boat, it will be important not to overdo it in order to stay up front. Preserving energy and protecting the boat will be key to surviving the first hours. Later, with the arrival in Spain, it will still be complicated, with a ridge of high pressure to cross mid-Bay of Biscay. Timing that crossing right will be crucial.”
Anaëlle Pattusch (Humains en Action): “I’m really excited to finally set off. It’s going to be sporty, but we’re well rested. This leg looks very interesting.”
Arthur Meurisse (Kiloutou): “I enjoy the idea of battling in tough conditions at the start. I’m happy to get going, even if the route out past Sein remains uncertain. Choosing the right option will be important. I feel strong and, above all, I really want to race.”
Tiphaine Ragueneau (ORCOM): “These are conditions we haven’t experienced this season. We’ll need to sail simply and smartly at first, then find the right balance to power up again. The key will be to keep things steady while still moving forward. After Brittany, the conditions should be much better.”
Léo Bothorel (Centre Excellence Voile – Secours Populaire): “The forecast is clear: tough at the beginning, but the delayed start is a good thing—it won’t last. The watchword will be caution, to avoid breakages, before the race turns into a tactical battle toward the finish. Light conditions could then create big time gaps.”
Hervé Aubry (Douze): “I’m rested, I ate well. The first eight hours will be tough, but once they’re over, we’ll find good conditions to sail in.”
Édouard Golbery (Seastemik): “I picture it like the eye of a cyclone: I’m in the middle, calm, while around me it’s chaos. I like these conditions. My goal is to be precise, do things well, stay in ‘perfect mode,’ and above all, enjoy it.”
Charlotte Yven (Skipper Macif 2023): “You need to stay focused and cautious at the start—but you still have to go. We’ve been waiting around, but you can’t choose the weather; you adapt and prepare accordingly.”
Tom Dolan (Kingspan): “My hand is doing great! The main thing is to get off to a safe start, then it’ll be fine. The road to Vigo is long, and there will be plenty of opportunities along the way.”
Follow the sailors on the race tracker: https://www.lasolitaire.com/cartographie
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