The 56th edition of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec began with a theoretical 638-mile course from the Bay of the Seine to Roscoff via the Fastnet. The first leg, raced in the English Channel and the Celtic Sea, posed an immediate challenge for the fleet: deciding whether to sail up the French or the English coast while avoiding the prohibited Casquets TSS. Added to this was the difficulty of passing through the Alderney Race, one of the strongest tidal currents in Europe.
This coastal stretch towards the Isles of Scilly then gave way to a more offshore passage to the Fastnet before the final approach to Roscoff. Choppy seas, strong opposing currents and south-westerly winds of around twenty knots accompanied the sailors throughout, making it a tough introduction for the Paprec Challenge newcomers, who faced a long but formative test of offshore sailing.
Alexis Loison, sailing for Groupe REEL, took the win, crossing the line in Morlaix Bay on Thursday at 07:55:26 CEST. His total time was 3 days, 18 hours, 55 minutes and 26 seconds. Although the official course measured 638 miles, he in fact covered 713.16 miles at an average speed of 7.84 knots. In second place came Hugo Dhallenne, with Skipper Macif 2025, at 08:10:58 CEST, 15 minutes and 32 seconds behind Loison. He sailed 713.80 miles at 7.83 knots on average. Completing the podium was Charlotte Yven, with Skipper Macif 2023, who crossed at 08:16:37 CEST after covering 717.17 miles at an average of 7.86 knots, the fastest of the top three.
Among the rookies, Yvon Larnicol, representing Auray–Quiberon by Orlabay, stood out by finishing seventh overall and first in the Beneteau Rookie Trophy. He sailed a total of 721.86 miles at an average speed of 7.87 knots.
The second stage will cover 565 nautical miles (1,046 km) between Roscoff and Vigo, starting on Sunday 14 September. As race director Yann Chateau explained, the course includes a coastal section around Brittany to the Birvideaux special mark before heading offshore across the Bay of Biscay. Competitors will need to cope with tidal currents and the possible influence of thermal breezes before tackling the longer offshore stretch.
According to Sébastien Petithuguenin, managing director of the Paprec Group, this stage is “a classic of La Solitaire”. The final approach along the Spanish coast may prove particularly demanding for skippers who are already tired, while offering opportunities to those able to manage their rest more effectively.
With a first leg that has already highlighted the race’s difficulty and a second stage designed to test endurance and strategy, La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec 2025 confirms its role as a proving ground for the new generation of offshore sailors.
It is also worth underlining that this regatta is sailed solo: the skippers spend several days at sea with no external support and very little proper sleep. Every mile becomes an exercise in physical and mental resilience, which is what makes La Solitaire unique in the offshore calendar. Attention now turns to the second stage between Roscoff and Vigo, a route that mixes a tactical coastal leg along Brittany with a full ocean crossing of the Bay of Biscay. It is a classic Solitaire stage, where speed alone will not be enough, as tactics, the ability to read the weather, and above all, managing fatigue and sleep will be decisive. The final approach to the Galician coast will test both the physical stamina and the clarity of thought of the skippers, underlining once again why this solo race remains one of the toughest in ocean sailing.
