Figaro : les dernières infos Tip & Shaft

A crossing of the English Channel in an Optimist at 12, an European 29er title at 16, a debut in the Figaro class at 17 and a first circuit victory to mark his 18th birthday, Tom Goron is proving to be a phenomenon of precocity in the world of competitive sailing. Between the Spi Ouest-France, which he won aboard PRB, and the Trophée BPGO he will race again with Nicolas Lunven (start on 18 April), Sailorz took a closer look at his profile.

Back on the Figaro Beneteau circuit this year while waiting for the launch of his future Imoca in just over a year’s time, Loïs Berrehar stood out at the Solo Guy Cotten, the first race of the season, by winning the 240-mile offshore race on Thursday evening. Fifth overall in an event won by Paul Morvan, the Banque Populaire skipper (32) looks back on the race and discusses his Imoca project.

It is the Solo Guy Cotten that, from March 6 to 14, will kick off the new season of the Figaro Beneteau circuit, marked by a reshuffled calendar, with a springtime Solitaire, but also the return of former heavyweights of the circuit, coming back to test themselves against the younger generation. 

A partner of Arnaud Boissières in the Imoca class since 2015, La Mie Câline, a Vendée-based franchise network (€200 million in turnover, 235 stores nationwide, employing approximately 2,500 people), has announced “the end of this chapter”. Its CEO, David Giraudeau, explains the move to Sailorz.

The 56th edition of the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec was won on Thursday night by Alexis Loison (Groupe Réel), who achieved a near grand slam, ahead of Charlotte Yven (Skipper Macif 2023) and Arno Biston (Article.1). Sailorz debriefs this Solitaire with two former winners, Pierre Quiroga (2021) and Corentin Horeau (2023), Loïs Berrehar (3rd in 2023 and 2nd in 2024), Lorient-based coach Tanguy Leglatin and router Dominic Vittet.

The first stage of the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec ended on Thursday with Alexis Loison (Groupe Réel) taking the win ahead of the two Skipper Macif sailors, Hugo Dhallenne and Charlotte Yven. To debrief on these 638 miles between Rouen and Morlaix Bay, Tip & Shaft was joined by Erwan Tabarly, coach at the Finistère centre in Port-la-Forêt, router Dominic Vittet, Basile Bourgnon and Gaston Morvan, each of whom has a podium finish in the Solitaire to their credit (2nd in 2023 and 3rd in 2024 respectively).

35 skippers will set sail on Sunday for the 56th edition of the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec. On the agenda: 1,850 miles over three legs between Rouen and Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, via Fastnet, Morlaix Bay and Vigo, Spain. Who will be at the forefront this year? 

The Transat Paprec, contested for the second time in mixed doubles, sets off from Concarneau on Sunday, bound for Saint-Barthélemy (3,890 miles). As before every major race, Tip & Shaft has brought together a panel of experts to discuss the line-up.

The press conference for the 2025 edition of the Transat Paprec, which sets off from Concarneau on April 20, was held on Thursday at Paprec Bretagne’s headquarters in Le Rheu, near Rennes. For the past two years, this transatlantic race has contested by mixed doubles, with this year 19 tandems at the start compared with 11 in 2023, proof that the format has found its audience.

After the Ocean Fifty class last week, we continue our tour of the classes with, this Friday, the Figaro Beneteau class, which continues to focus on  diversity gender and youth training, a strategy that seems to be bearing fruit, with registrations on the rise and boats not depreciating in value despite the tense economic climate. The only fly in the ointment is the financing of the races, and therefore the calendar.

Tom Dolan won the 55th edition of the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec on Wednesday at the end of the final leg between Royan and La Turballe, won, like the first, by Loïs Berrehar, 2nd overall ahead of Gaston Morvan. To debrief the event, Tip & Shaft spoke to Gildas Mahé and Marcus Hutchinson, who know the Irish winner well, as well as Corentin Horeau, the title holder, and Yann Chateau, the race director.