Just over 24 hours after the start of the first leg of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec, the fleet has rounded the first major mark of the 2025 course — Skerries Bank, off the southeast coast of Cornwall.

Tom Goron (Groupe Dubreuil) and Arthur Meurisse (Kiloutou) were the first to reach it, though by very different routes. A first hierarchy is emerging, but the road to the Bay of Morlaix has only just begun.

The bold tactical move launched overnight by Tom Goron and Charlotte Yven (Skipper Macif 2023) didn’t create a decisive break, but it certainly made an impression. Positioned in the leading group at Barfleur, the pair chose to dive west, alone, skirting under the no-go shipping lane (Traffic Separation Scheme). That gave them a sharper angle towards Skerries Bank, powering along at more than 8 knots while the bulk of the fleet was stuck at 5–6 knots upwind. Goron was the first to round the mark.

At the head of the eastern group, Arthur Meurisse managed to squeeze in between the buoy and Charlotte Yven in a maneuver worthy of the best match racers — snatching second place by a single second. Alexis Loison (Groupe REEL) was right in the rhythm, rounding in fourth.

La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec – photo © Thomas Campion

With the mark behind them, spinnakers went up for the long slide down to the next waypoint: the Daffodils cardinal buoy, off Dieppe. Another Channel crossing lies ahead, but this long run should give the solo sailors a chance to regroup: grab food, snatch some rest, and think ahead to the next tactical calls.

Videos sent from onboard show that last night was far from easy, and fatigue is already biting. Once locked onto an optimal course, most will be desperate to steal a few precious minutes of sleep.

Rounding order at Skerries Bank:

Tom Goron (Groupe Dubreuil) – 12:47:04
Arthur Meurisse (Kiloutou) – 12:56:53
Charlotte Yven (Skipper Macif 2023) – 12:56:54
Alexis Loison (Groupe REEL) – 12:59:55
Romain Bouillard (Décrochons la lune) – 13:00:40

La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec – photo © Thomas Campion

Skerries Bank also served as the scoring point for the Windchaser Trophy by Bollé, which rewards the biggest comeback in the standings between the last coastal mark and this intermediate sprint.

Arno Biston (Article 1) took top honors with a jump of more than 20 places. Paul Morvan (French Touch – Foricher) was second (+15), while Charlotte Yven (Skipper Macif 2023) completed the podium (+13).

La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec – photo © Thomas Campion

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by La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec