By Thomas Howson — La Solitaire du Figaro
Stage three of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec has turned into a proper grind this Tuesday. Close-hauled and fighting the elements, the sailors have been glued to their wheels for hours on end in brutal conditions, with sleep a rare luxury. After 44 hours of racing and two legs already in the legs, fatigue is starting to bite, but one slip-up in this still-compact fleet could prove costly. Tom Dolan aboard Kingspan continues to set the pace at the top of the general standings, and what a pace it is. He’s showing no inclination to hand his main rivals—Nicolas Lunven (PRB) and Alexis Thomas (Wings of the Ocean)—any daylight in the race for outright victory. Once they clear the Occidentale de Sein, the pace will likely ramp up significantly at the front of the fleet. ©Thomas Campion
Dolan unstoppable
In these technical and physically demanding conditions, experience is proving to be the difference maker. The most seasoned sailors are holding the front row and setting a relentless tempo in this flat-out dash along the Breton coast. The fleet is grinding through the waters between Groix and the Glénan archipelago, on a tight beat where every trim and tactical call matters. A handful of weathered campaigners are navigating quickly and cleanly through it all. Little movement at the head of the stage standings so far. The fleet remains under the command of Irishman Tom Dolan, who’s clearly intent on claiming his second triumph in La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec. But snapping at his heels is a keen bunch of rivals equally hungry for victory. Loïs Berrehar, who came unstuck in stage two, is looking to claw back time. Martin Le Pape, a last-minute stand-in for Yoann Richomme aboard Paprec, has been putting on a solid showing. Nicolas Lunven on PRB is keen to make up his three-minute deficit and claim a third victory—his first in nine years.
You’ll be rounding the Glénan!
As the afternoon wears on, the fleet should be tacking to set course westward towards Brittany’s far reaches. A long beat now lies ahead—pointing towards the Breton peninsula, the Occidentale de Sein, and a crucial tactical waypoint before the game-changing finale to this leg. The intermediate sprint bonus will also come into play here, offering five minutes to the winner, three to second, and one to third. With the fleet this tight, those bonus seconds could end up making all the difference. ©Thomas Campion
Catching what rest you can
Before they hit the Channel, the skippers will need to grab whatever shut-eye they can find. Because come tomorrow, everything changes. Strong wind, rough seas, and properly testing conditions are forecast for the final push to the next waypoint in England before they make their dash for the finish line at Le Havre.
Originally published in French by La Solitaire du Figaro.
