The 56th edition of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec has officially set sail. On Sunday in Le Havre, thirty-five solo skippers left the dock to begin the first stage of this celebrated race, an edition that places Normandy firmly in the spotlight.
Rouen played host to the race village for a full week, transforming its riverbanks into a lively maritime festival. After the parade down the Seine and the final preparations in Le Havre, the fleet headed out into the English Channel for a 638-mile opening leg that promises drama and excitement from the very start.
This year, Rouen, Le Havre and Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue are at the heart of the event, not only as key ports but also as home waters for several of the sailors. Four Norman skippers, Alexis Loison, Jules Ducelier, Yvon Larnicol and Edouard Golbery, are among the line-up. For them, racing in familiar territory offers both pride and an edge. Knowing the local tides, winds and tricky waters could prove decisive in a contest where every detail counts.
Race organisers reshaped the original course to focus on the Channel. With repeated crossings between French and English shores, dense shipping lanes and notorious tidal races such as Raz Blanchard, this first stage is expected to test both tactics and endurance. The forecast adds to the challenge: a moderate southerly breeze at the start, rising to around twenty knots on the first night, before shifting south-westerly and forcing the fleet to sail upwind. Light airs are predicted near Dieppe, where fortunes may swing dramatically, while the midweek passage towards the Isle of Wight should bring stronger winds under an approaching front, setting up a demanding finale.
“It will be a short leg, full of manoeuvres and likely decided by very small gaps at the finish,” commented Alexis Thomas, one of the favourites. American sailor Erika Lush, the sole representative from her country, admitted she felt torn at not rounding the legendary Fastnet Rock, though she understood the emphasis on safety. “The Channel course is still rich in crossings and opportunities to learn and push forward,” she said. For Davy Beaudart, the aim is consistency: “I hope to sail a cleaner Solitaire than last time. This course suits me well and there will be action right from the gun.”
Normandy is more than a backdrop; it is a central character in this edition. The region has embraced the start with pride, once again placing Rouen and Le Havre on the map of world sailing. As Rouen’s mayor Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol put it, the Seine is our place and our bond, and it has brought together thousands of people in a great popular celebration.
With the cannon already fired, the real adventure begins: long days alone at sea, restless nights and a first leg that will push both veterans and rookies to their limits. Normandy has given the send-off. From here, the English Channel will decide who emerges strongest in the opening battle of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec 2025.
The start of the first leg of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec 2025 can be followed live via the race’s official channels. The official YouTube channel is broadcasting from 10:30 CEST, with the start scheduled for 13:00 CEST.
In addition, live coverage with updates, rankings and tracking maps is available in the “LIVE” section of the event’s official website.
