31 May Tom Leads Into Final Leg of the Figaro
With 630miles between Pornichet and Le Havre, the fleet now faces the decisive final stage of the 2026 Solitaire du Figaro the longest leg on paper, yet one that could prove the fastest. Strong forecasts promise a high‑intensity finale and Kingspan skipper Tom Dolan begins it with a precious 3minutes and 38 seconds overall lead over two‑time Solitaire champion Nicolas Lunven.
After two punishing legs, the Irishman has at least regained something essential: sleep. “I was still a bit groggy until yesterday,” he smiles. “But now I’ve slept well.” A small detail, but far from insignificant before several more days of racing where clear thinking may matter as much as raw speed. “It’s going to be complicated at the beginning and intense at the end,” Tom summarises with his usual conciseness.
The first real test will arrive quickly on the route to BXA, where the fleet must negotiate a ridge of high pressure and easing winds conditions ripe for both regrouping and costly setbacks. Once through the ridge, the race will change character entirely. A north‑westerly flow is expected to fill in and accelerate the fleet dramatically. “After that, it’s going to be a bit of a rollercoaster,” Tom explains. As the Figaro Beneteau 3s push toward the English Channel, winds could rise to 25–30 knots, a scenario that doesn’t faze him. “It doesn’t bother me,” he says simply a typically understated response from a sailor rarely discouraged by tough conditions.
But the English Channel is never straightforward. Strong currents, dense shipping lanes, fragmented sleep and accumulated fatigue often combine to produce unpredictable outcomes.
The finish is expected sometime between Wednesday night and Thursday morning and this leg promises to be one to watch, as Tom battles to hold his lead, manage energy and keep his eye on the competition. Racing commences at 18:00pm this evening Irish Time.
