Since 1:15 this morning, the 35 solo sailors have been heading south in close formation. Conditions remain quite challenging, with a choppy sea and a southwesterly wind of around 20 knots. In this morning’s rankings, Nicolas Lunven (PRB) leads the fleet. The two-time winner of the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec seems very comfortable in these conditions and is followed by Alexis Thomas (Wings of the Ocean), Arno Biston (Article.1), and Laure Gallay (Hauterive).

The day’s plan seems fairly straightforward for the entire fleet: sailing south through this front, which should accompany these men and women for another fifteen hours or so. During this time, they will need to try to rest, stay well hydrated, and, if possible, warm up. In these challenging conditions, physical management will be essential. The cold, the humidity, and the constant movement of the boat put a heavy strain on the body, and each sailor will have to be careful to conserve their energy to last the entire duration.

The road to Vigo is still long and is not expected to be as simple as that.

Currently on its way to join the head of the fleet, the trimaran Express should meet up with the sailors by midday and once again provide images from the open sea as well as the words of the sailors.

” Good morning everyone, a quick morning update on this Figaro-Paprec 2026 solo race. We had a rather challenging night with the passage of the front, and especially a very choppy sea between the wind, which was mostly from the south, and the Atlantic swell, which was mostly from the west. Gusts reached 35 knots, and the wind was steady at 28-30 knots. Choosing the right tack is quite interesting for the sailors. It’s not necessarily obvious on the chart, but there are many small details that lead to compromises being made more or less quickly, sometimes trying to convert lateral distances into progress towards the south, by achieving a better angle to the wind. So, it’s really about small positioning decisions being made right before our eyes.”

And then we also realize that some boats have opted for a reef, others are sailing under full mainsail. Speeds are relatively similar, but I think the equipment is much better protected with a reef, which might have an impact later on. The wind is slowly easing, but there are still gusts of 28-29 knots, and we should see that all day: a weakening wind, but a choppy sea that will be a bit tricky to navigate until this evening.

As for the sailors and boats, there were a few minor issues, but really nothing serious for a passing front, so everything is going well with the fleet still closely bunched for the rest of the course. There’s still some uncertainty about the arrival in Vigo, which we’re hoping for around Thursday evening. Have a good day everyone! » Yann Chateau, Race Director from No Limit, one of the support boats