Please select your home edition
Edition
Selden 2020 - LEADERBOARD
Product Feature
OFS700 Zhik Offshore and Coastal jacket, salopette & pants
OFS700 Zhik Offshore and Coastal jacket, salopette & pants

Tom Dolan collects 5 minute bonus winning La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec Leg 2 Intermediate Sprint

by La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec 2 Sep 16:49 BST 17 August - 15 September 2024
Tom Dolan leads at Malpica in 55th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec Leg 2 © Alexis Courcoux

Ireland's Tom Dolan collected the five minute time bonus for winning Stage 2 of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec's Intermediate Sprint when the skipper of Smurfit Kappa-Kingspan passed the Sisargas Islands off the village of Malpica on the rugged NW corner of Spain first of the 36 boat fleet this afternoon.

After a slow start out of Gijón on Sunday afternoon and into the first night of the 515 nautical miles stage across the Bay of Biscay stage to Royan, Dolan delivered on his planned strategy to be among the first to break through a cold front which had been forecast to reach the fleet leaders around 0400hrs local time this morning. He positioned himself slightly more to the north, offshore of his nearest rivals and was rewarded with a small lead which he extended to lead around the rocky islets at 1519hrs this afternoon. Second was Alexis Thomas (Wings of the Ocean) 18 minutes later - gaining a three minutes bonus with Gaston Morvan (Région Bretagne-CMB Performance) third earning one minute off his elapsed time for the stage.

Dolan went into this second stage of three with a deficit of 5 minutes and 31 seconds behind Basile Bourgnon (EDENRED) who was the overall race leader when the stage started from Gijón. Bourgnon was ten miles behind Dolan late this afternoon whilst Lois Berrehar (Skipper MACIF 2022) - who lay second overall - was seventh at seven miles behind Dolan who won the first leg of La Solitaire Paprec 3.

The cold front brought rain and winds to 25 kts and Dolan and his immediate pursuers had a moderately fast passage into the islets under gennaker. He was still staying to the north of Thomas and Morvan - who is one of the podium favourites but who did not have a good first leg.

Early this Monday evening it was very much a speed race on a close reaching course which will see the fleet diverge away from the Spanish coast and the stronger currents. They still have 350 miles to sail to Royan which lies to the north of entry to the Gironde estuary.

Spain's Pep Costa (VSF Sports) is 11th at nine miles behind the leader whilst Germany's Sanni Beucke (This Race is Female) is 23rd at 15 miles behind Doland and Thomas whilst Swiss rookie Anaëlle Pattusch (Nemo) is 28th.

Dolan said this morning, "We have around twenty knots of wind, but with a lot of rain. I'm happy to have managed to do what I wanted in terms of positioning. I managed to gain a good place in the west to reach the front. I didn't think it would come in like that and so quickly. I'm happy with what I did. There are still a lot of things that will happen, the course is long. The wind will gradually ease and lift and we will be able to hoist the spinnaker. I'm taking advantage of this tack to rest a little, the boat is moving forward on its own. I'm in great shape to tackle this day."

How to follow:

Related Articles

Tom Dolan reflects on his 2024 Figaro season
Full of challenges and lessons but the achievements have taken centre stage With the 2024 Figaro programme drawing to a close, it is the perfect time to take stock of the past season, which will remain etched in my memory in more ways than one. Posted on 22 Oct
2025 Griffin Offshore Pathway announced
Opening opportunities to young sailors in offshore sailing The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) is excited to announce the launch of the 2025 Griffin Offshore Pathway, a programme designed to provide a range of opportunities to young sailors of different abilities, wanting to hone their skills in offshore sailing. Posted on 5 Oct
Interview with Tom Dolan
After winning the La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec Yesterday morning in La Turballe on the French Loire Atlantic coast Irish solo sailor Tom Dolan won La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec, renowned as the toughest single handed multi stage offshore sailing race in the world. Posted on 13 Sep
La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec overall
Ireland's Tom Dolan wins on Smurfit Kappa-Kingspan Finishing in seventh place on the 710 nautical miles Stage 3 into La Turballe on France's Loire Atlantique coast at 05:18:10hrs this Thursday morning, Ireland's Tom Dolan (Smurfit Kappa-Kingpsan) is the provisional overall winner. Posted on 12 Sep
Winning Solitaire du Figaro a dream come true
The suspense was palpable for Tom Dolan throughout the third and final leg The suspense was palpable throughout the third and final leg of the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec! Posted on 12 Sep
La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec Leg 3 Day 4
Minutes in it as the clock ticks down to the finish With less than 100 miles to sail to the final finish line of the 55th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec the 2024 title looks set to go down to the wire. It was a brutal double crossing of the Channel yesterday and last night. Posted on 11 Sep
La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec Leg 3 Day 3
Final 36 hours will decide winner After a relatively straightforward climb up the Brittany coast the solo racers on the final stage of the 55th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec are getting into the most difficult part of the monster 710 nautical miles stage from Royan to La Turballe. Posted on 10 Sep
La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec Leg 3 Day 2
Course alteration as fleet contemplate tough conditions ahead in English Channel Into the second day of the final leg of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec and the 33 remaining solo skippers are pressing hard as they climb north along the Brittany coast. Posted on 9 Sep
La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec Leg 3 Start
All to play for in strong conditions Conditions on the Gironde Estuary were perfect for 36 solo racers who started the decisive third and final stage of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec this afternoon off Royan. Posted on 8 Sep
Tom Dolan: “Remain humble right to the wire”
The Solitaire du Figaro Paprec final leg starts at 2pm (CET) today This Sunday 8 September at 2 pm local time, Tom Dolan and his fellow competitors in the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec will take the start of the third and final leg of the event. Posted on 8 Sep