'All to do again' – Tom Dolan launches 2025 Solitaire du Figaro Defence

It’s the first big test of the Figaro calendar, a proper shakedown with 40 identical Figaro Bénéteau 3s. and you’d struggle to find a tighter fleet anywhere on the planet.

Among the names to watch? Tom Dolan, Ireland’s adopted Frenchman, quietly confident, ferociously prepared, and hungry to defend the Solitaire du Figaro title he so memorably lifted last year. He may carry the quiet charm of a man who’s lived in Brittany for over a decade, but don’t let the humility fool you—this guy’s all in.

“This race means a lot — it’s right here in my adopted hometown, and a chance to pay tribute to Guy Cotten, a long-time partner of my project,” says Dolan.

The format? Two days of short-course inshore jousting before the fleet is let loose on a 48-hour offshore sprint starting Wednesday. It’s solo. It’s brutal. And it’s the only time the entire Figaro fleet will sail together before the Solitaire in late summer.

“It’s just you, the weather, and the boat. Every little detail matters,” says Dolan. No room for ego. No place to hide.

After an intense winter training block at the Pôle Finistère Course au Large, Tom’s been immersed in the art of fine-tuning—millimetre sail adjustments, relentless double-handed drills with Gildas Mahé, and proper pressure testing in winter’s trickiest northeasters.

“It’s the small details that can end up making a big difference,” he says, echoing every marginal gains coach ever—but in this fleet, it’s gospel.

For Dolan, this race is more than just a season-opener—it’s personal.

“The goal is to stay humble and keep the same mindset I had in the 2024 Solitaire. I won it last year—but that was last year. This season, it’s all to do again.”

With a forecast of unstable northeasterlies, it’s shaping up to be a tactical nightmare—or dream, depending on your perspective. Fortunately, Dolan’s spent the winter cutting his teeth in just these conditions.

“It’ll be all about picking the right shifts—but that’s ideal,” he grins.

So, here we go. The long road to the 2025 Solitaire du Figaro begins now. Dolan may have the title to defend, but in this game, there are no guarantees—just hard miles, hard lessons, and the occasional moment of solo sailing magic. Let’s see what Concarneau delivers.