Tom Dolan kicks off his 2025 season from his home port of Concarneau

Tom Dolan kicks off his 2025 season from his home port of Concarneau © Gilles Dedeurwaerder

The 49th edition of the Solo Guy Cotten sets sail this Monday, March 24th, from Concarneau. Nearly 40 Figaro Bénéteau 3 are expected to participate in the 2025 French Elite Offshore Racing Championship - one of the ultimate test for offshore sailing.

The Solo Guy Cotten series, which is part of 2025 French Elite Offshore Racing Championship, comprises two days of inshore races on Monday and Tuesday before the main offshore leg begins on Wednesday at 2:30pm (French time), lasting approximately 48 hours.

Among the sailors to watch closely is Irish skipper Tom Dolan, sponsored by Kingspan, who is ready to kick off his season with both ambition and determination. True to form, Tom will be approaching the race with humility and a drive to keep learning — reminding us that, at this early stage in the season, everyone starts from zero.

"The Solo Guy Cotten is a real eye-opener. It's just you, the weather, and the boat. Every little detail matters," says Tom Dolan, who has lived in Concarneau for the past twelve years. "This race means a lot — it's right here in my adopted hometown, and it's also a chance to pay tribute to Guy Cotten, a long-time partner of my project. This year, I'm coming in with one clear goal: to defend my title for the Solitaire du Figaro, and this race is a key step on the way to doing this in 2025."

Tom Dolan kicks off his 2025 season from his home port of Concarneau - photo © Gilles Dedeurwaerder

A focused winter to fine-tune every detail

To prepare, Tom took a big step this winter by joining the Pôle Finistère Course au Large — France's elite offshore training centre.

"I've been sailing a lot double-handed with Gildas Mahé, and I've learned loads. It's all about shaving off the tiny margins — it is the small details that can end up making a big difference," he explains.

The tuning of sails is down to millimetres, intense training sessions alongside some of the best sailors on the circuit — everything has been lined up to start the season strong.

"It's been a really productive winter — a good mix of long offshore training and close-contact racing. I'm feeling more ready than ever heading into this Solo Guy Cotten Race programme."

As the first race of the season, the Solo Guy Cotten is also the only event before the Solitaire du Figaro where the full fleet races together.

"Some skippers will do the Transat Paprec afterwards, others won't. So, this is a proper full-on clash — physically and mentally — and it'll give us a solid feel for where everyone is at."

Staying humble and focused

Sailing in Concarneau, naturally, adds something special for Tom.

"The goal is to stay humble and keep the same mindset I had in the 2024 Solitaire du Figaro. Most of all, to enjoy it. I won the Solitaire du Figaro last year — but that was last year. This season, it's all to do again. Nothing is ever guaranteed," he insists.

As for the weather, the forecast looks to be a mix of unstable and shifting northeasterlies — a fun and tactical playground.

"It'll be all about picking the right shifts — but that's ideal. We've spent nearly the whole winter training in just those conditions," smiles Tom, knowing that every decision will count.

The coastal courses kick off at 11am (French time) on Monday, before the big offshore race on Wednesday. You can track the offshore race by this tracker here.

Tom Dolan, skipper of Kingspan, is driven to climb higher, learn more, and push further.