La Solitaire du Figaro: Two newcomers on the podium - Sanni Beucke at the finish line

Frenchman Benoît Tuduri ("Capso - En Cavale") has made a dream start to his offshore racing career. In his first outing at La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec, the 29-year-old won the first stage of the demanding solo classic. The vertical starter thus continues the successful record of his training group Team Vendée Formation from Saint-Gilles-Croix: his coach Xavier Macaire, long a great of the class, had won the first Figaro stages in 2020 and 2012.

You have to have confidence in your decisions. And here we are: two rookies on the podium!" Julie Simon

For the second time in a row, Benoît Tuduri, a first-time Figaro participant, won the opening leg. He crossed the finish line on the morning of 31 August, completing the 610 nautical miles from Caen to Kinsale in Ireland in 3 days, 19 hours and 25 seconds. A good quarter of an hour after him, Irish "returnee" Tom Dolan crossed the finish line on "Smurfit Kappa-Kingspan".

The second newcomer and best woman was Julie Simon on "Douze" in third place. After three seasons in the Mini 650 class, she rewarded herself with an outstanding entry into the Figaro class and said: "I could never have imagined this. It's extraordinary! My goal was really just to ride a good stage, ideally to finish in the top half. We did the final sprint in the dark, which wasn't easy. But you have to have confidence in your decisions, and here we are: two rookies on the podium!"

Typical Figaro: brutally narrow distances

"Teamwork" co-favourite Nils Palmieri opened the 54th edition of La Solitaire du Figaro in fourth place. Elodie Bonafus ("Quéguiner La Vie en Rose"), who initially sailed in the lead, finished in tenth place just over half an hour after the winner. The 33-minute difference between first and tenth place shows just how brutally close things are on the technically demanding Figaro circuit.

Sanni Beucke also had to learn this on her second Figaro participation. Although she finished just over four hours after Benoît Tuduri, this initially meant 27th place among the 32 men and women, three of whom were still travelling on Thursday afternoon. The Olympic silver medallist from Japan entered the Figaro class at the beginning of 2022 and wants to gain experience and learn at a high level for the Vendée Globe participation in 2028, which is in her sights.

This is only my fourth solo race and the first Solitaire stage of my life." Benoît Tuduri

"I don't even understand what I've done, I haven't really realised it yet," commented Benoît Tuduri on his coup in Kinsale, almost speechless at first. Then he said: "I was so focussed on crossing the finish line that I didn't think about what I had achieved. This is only my fourth solo race and the first Solitaire stage of my life. This is really something special."

I dedicate this victory to all the children who visited me at the start in Caen. And to all my partners who trust me." Tuduri, who co-founded a company for sailing training and the organisation of company regattas near his home town of Montpellier, said: "I know that you never give up at the Figaro. And it was my first time on the Fastnet. It's a special feeling because it's a legendary place. It was dark and raining. I only saw the Fastnet rock when I was only 20 metres away. But it was a very beautiful, mystical moment."

A podium finish for the "Flying Irishman"

Tom Dolan also had a strong opening stage after a weak start. He had opted for the east and a course north of the Scillies, led on the climb into the Celtic Sea on Tuesday and passed the Fastnet Rock in fourth place in the early hours of the morning. In the final sprint on the way to the finish, Dolan overtook his Swiss rivals Nils Palmieri and Julie Simon on a course closer to the coast.

Tom Dolan secured the Vivi trophy for the best international, non-French skipper and was greeted with great enthusiasm by his fellow countrymen. "It was really touching that so many people were there to greet me," said the Irishman, also known in France as the "Flying Irishman", in Kinsale.

The first arrivals of the Figaro fleet in Kinsale:

Click here for the tracking and the results of stage one at La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec.