With the entry into force of phase 3 of deconfinement, the horizon is brightening for sporting events whose organization had until now been made impossible due to the COVID-19 crisis. If the final format still requires adaptation to health constraints, Figarists can rejoice: The Solitaire du Figaro, the flagship race of the French Elite Offshore Racing Championship, is confirmed at the end of summer, departing from the Bay of Saint Brieuc. After an intermediate stopover in Dunkirk, a first for the event, it is in Loire-Atlantique, in Saint-Nazaire, that the Grand Final will be played, for a reunion with a port which has marked the history of La Solitaire du Figaro for 13 short seconds that became famous.
Guarantee the holding of the event
The pandemic which has affected France in recent months has long put on hold the fate of sporting events scheduled for the period following deconfinement. However, the organizers never stopped believing and hoping for a positive outcome. Despite the negative signals hanging over the organization, the OC Sport Pen Duick teams remained mobilized and attentive to the various stakeholders in the event. “There were times when we could have become discouraged, but we continued to work, every moment, strongly believing in the possibility of organizing a race at the end of the summer,” confirms Hervé Favre, president of OC Sport Pen Duick. Throughout this period of uncertainty, we have continued to hold regular discussions with all partners, communities concerned, sailors and institutions, in order to ensure the maintenance of the event and to deliver it. at the level of ambition that one can expect from a race like this. Today, we are extremely proud to be able to confirm the organization of this great classic. It is excellent news for the ocean racing ecosystem that this race, a major event in the Figaro Bénéteau class calendar, is taking place.”
Saint-Nazaire for the finale and a reunion with History
If we already knew that it was in Loire-Atlantique that the Grand Final of La Solitaire du Figaro 2020 would be judged, it is precisely in Saint-Nazaire that the 35 skippers expected this year will arrive. This will be the fourth time that the port on the Atlantic coast will host the race but Saint-Nazaire, newly labeled City of Art and History, definitely has a special place in the history of the event. It is indeed impossible not to remember the Hitchcockian suspense that was reserved for the final finish of the 2003 edition and this fierce duel between Armel Le Cléac'h and Alain Gautier which after a month of fighting on the water had turned into the advantage of the first… for a few 13 tiny seconds that remain famous. The most faithful of the event barely remember the beautiful stage victory won by Lionel Péan, whose memory will not have resisted the implacable mano a mano between two generations of sailors and the explosion of the “Jackal.” Good news, the skipper of Banque Populaire will be there for this 2020 edition.
Philippe Grosvalet, president of the Loire-Atlantique Department
“The 51st Solitaire du Figaro is confirmed: it’s the best scenario!
Loire-Atlantique hosted the big start of the previous season. The legendary race returns from September 16 to 20. We will have the pleasure of experiencing two beautiful stages and the Grand Final in the heart of the estuary, in Saint-Nazaire. Iconic place where the longest river and the longest bridge in France meet, facing the ocean.
A real race against time is now underway for the skippers, to resume navigation and training. With the context of the health crisis, participants are preparing in record time in exceptional conditions for an equally exceptional 2020 edition.
Good preparation to all.”
The poster for the 2020 edition
We therefore had to wait to be certain, but from Saint-Quay-Portrieux to Saint-Nazaire via Dunkirk, all the lights are finally green to welcome the sailors and their partners on La Solitaire du Figaro 2020. A confirmation awaited which will now officially be able to be displayed large and proudly thanks to a visual highlighting all the intensity of the nautical debates which are coming.
The entire organizing team is now hard at work refining the final system, determined to make this particular edition... an unforgettable edition!
They said :
Marie-Claire Diouron, president of Saint-Brieuc Armor Agglomération
“In 2020, Saint-Brieuc Armor Agglomération continues its Nautical Ambition with the hosting of the Grand Départ of La Solitaire du Figaro in Saint-Quay-Portrieux. While being vigilant to the context and health directives, the agglomeration can keep its commitments by supporting OC Sport Pen Duick in the holding of this essential event for the development of the maritime and tourist economy of the Bay of Saint-Brieuc. »
Patrice Vergriete, mayor of Dunkirk, president of the Urban Community
“Welcoming for the first time in Dunkirk a race as renowned as La Solitaire du Figaro demonstrates a new step in the attractiveness of our territory. Thanks to our know-how in hosting major nautical events, this stopover will be both a major sporting event but also a festive gathering for the entire population of our city.”
David Samzun, mayor of Saint-Nazaire
“Its preserved coastline is among the unique assets of Saint-Nazaire. A reality experienced by the inhabitants, and confirmed by the arrival of new Nazairians and ever more numerous tourists. Everyone enjoying this urban life from natural places or from the new public spaces of the seafront, the banks of Brivet or the Place du Commando. Hosting La Solitaire du Figaro, an event as prestigious as it is unmissable in the world of boating, is a source of great pride for Saint-Nazaire and further proof of the relevance of its maritime and coastal ambition.”
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