23 May Dolan Leads Into Leg Two as Solitaire Du Figaro Battle Intensifies
On Sunday, 24 May, the 36‑strong Figaro fleet will line up in Vigo for the start of Leg Two of the Solitaire du Figaro. The 450‑nautical‑mile course to Pornichet, France, promises a very different kind of intensity for Irish skipper Tom Dolan, who begins the stage holding the overall lead.
Dolan carries a 33‑minutes advantage into the restart, a useful buffer, but far from decisive in offshore racing. The same shifts and squalls that helped him extend his margin in Leg One can just as easily erase it if he finds himself on the wrong side of the weather.
“I’m going out there to sail and have fun, not to get too emotional about the result whether it ends up being a good one or a bad one. I’m just really happy to be back doing what I do best, so I’m going to focus on that,” Dolan says, after prioritising rest and recovery since finishing the opening leg.
The fleet will first navigate the notoriously unstable north‑west corner of Spain, where lightning and squalls are forecast to greet them on the opening day.
Shortly after rounding the coast, they enter the Bay of Biscay, where a barometric col a broad zone of light winds between two high‑pressure systems is expected to slow the boats and bunch the fleet together before a fresh following breeze builds and pushes them toward the finish.
Reflecting on the conditions, Dolan says: “It’s going to be a long, tricky race. I’ve got more to lose than I have to gain, so I probably won’t be getting much sleep in these light conditions. The Solitaire du Figaro is far from over, I’ve a long way to go yet.”
Tune in live at 4pm (Spanish time) tomorrow to watch Tom Dolan fight for a second Solitaire du Figaro title as he takes on this experienced fleet.
