The Solitaire du Figaro, previously called the Course de l'Aurore, is a solo multi-stage sailing race created in 1970 by Jean-Louis Guillemard and Jean-Michel Barrault. The unique character of the race, the presence of great solo sailors and its being open to amateurs, has made it one of the most cherished races in French sailing.

History

From 1970 to 1979 the race was organised by the newspaper L'Aurore. In 1980 the daily newspaper Le Figaro bought out L'Aurore and became the principal sponsor of the event. From 2003, the eyewear company Alain Afflelou was an associate sponsor. The official name of the race became La Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro. Since 2008, the motor manufacturer Suzuki replaced them, and the race became named La Solitaire du Figaro Suzuki. Since 2011 the title sponsor of the race has been Éric Bompard Cachemire, a French fashion house specialising in cashmere garments. The characteristics of the race are:

Boats

In early races, boats were all from the same series. Since 1980, the race used prototype half-tonners. In 1991, the Solitaire du Figaro made the milestone of becoming a One-Design race. The race organisers chose the Bénéteau Figaro (later called the Figaro Bénéteau I) designed by Group Finot and Jean Berret. In 2003, a new design called Beneteau Figaro 2 was introduced and it was replaced in 2018, by the hydrofoiling Beneteau Figaro 3.

Past winners

Results

All places are in France unless otherwise stated.

2003

42 skippers started, 42 finished.

2004

51 competitors. 52 skippers started, 52 finished.

2005

46 skippers started, 42 finished.

2006

Started 6 August 2006, with 44 competitors.

2007

Started 29 July 2007, with 50 competitors. After ten competitions, Michel Desjoyeaux was the third French sailor to win his third Figaro race, this one being marked by strong winds (as much as 50 kn in the last two stages which crossed the Gulf of Gascogne. Nicolas Lunven in Bostik finished first newcomer in 14th place.

2008

Started 25 July 2008, with 50 competitors. François Gabart in Espoir Région Bretagne finished first newcomer in 16th place. Nicolas Troussel won a race marked by a windless first stage in which he "tué la course" ("killed the race", leading to the neologism "Do a Troussel", in ) by arriving six hours ahead. It was his second victory in the race.

2009

Started 30 July 2009 for the 40th race, with 52 competitors.

2017

Starting on 4 June 2017 from Pauillac, France the 48th edition of the race commenced with 43 competitors: 36 French, 3 British, 1 Swiss, 1 Turkish, 1 Czech and 1 American – a split of 37 men and 6 women skippers took on the challenge.