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La Solitaire Du Figaro Announces 2010 Edition of the Race
The 2010 edition of La Solitaire du Figaro will cover 1,717 nautical miles between ports both old and new to the race. There will be the return to Gijon and Kinsale, which will bring back memories that are part of the rich history of La Solitaire du Figaro. Between these two stages abroad, Le Havre will host the race start for the 41st edition for the first time. Brest and Cherbourg-Octeville will each host a stop-over once more.
The City of Le Havre will host La Solitaire du Figaro race for the very first time. With a long history and experience of hosting large-scale events, the Paul Vatine's basin and its entire new infrastructure will undoubtedly provide all the facilities for a great start for the event from the 20th to the 27th July.
On July 27th the Figaro fleet will leave Le Havre for Gijon in Spain on a marathon 515 nautical mile leg, which will see the fleet sail on both the English Channel and the Atlantic Sea.
The second leg up to Brest will not be so straightforward; with a return crossing of the Bay of Biscay to negotiate and the SN1 mark to be left to port.
La Solitaire returns to the much-loved town of Kinsale for the 19th time in the 41-year history of the race. Although the event has not returned since 1997, it remains to this day, one of the greatest stopovers of the race. Relatively short at 349 miles, the 3rd stage of the race, will be nothing but easy. Upon leaving Brest harbour, the Figaro Beneteau 2 fleet will head out into the Chenal du Four along the Portsall rock plateau. Then follows an 89 miles stretch along the English Channel up the Cornish coastline to Wolf Rock, which must be left to port. The fleet will converge at the legendary Fastnet Rock, which must be left to starboard, after the 165 mile stint across the Celtic Sea, before heading eastwards to Kinsale.
The 41st edition of the race will conclude in Cherbourg in Normandy on the fourth and final 435-mile leg.
Schedule for La Solitaire du Figaro 2010:
Le Havre
Village Opening: Tuesday, July 20
Suzuki Prologue: Sunday, July 25
Leg 1 Start: Tuesday, July 27
The Solitaire stops in Le Havre for the first time
Gijon (515 Miles)
Arrival of boats: Friday, July 30
Leg 2 Start: Tuesday, August 3
The Solitaire stops in Gijon for the 11th time
Host City: 1991-1992-1994-1995-1996-1997-1998-2001-2002-2004
Brest (418 Miles)
Arrival of boats: Thursday, August 5
Leg 3 Start: Monday, August 9
The Solitaire stopped in Brest for the 10th time
Departure City: 1970-1971-1994-1999
Host City: 1981-1988-1997-2007
Arrival City: 1995
Kinsale (349 Miles)
Arrival of boats: Wednesday, August 11
Leg 4 Start: Monday, August 16
The Solitaire stops in Kinsale for the 19th time
Host City:
1974-1975-1976-1978-1979-1980-1983- 1984-1985-1986-1988-1990-1991- 1992-1993-1994-1995-1997
Cherbourg-Octeville (435 Miles)
Arrival of boats: Thursday, August 19
Closing Regatta: Sunday, August 22
The Solitaire stopped at Cherbourg for the 7th time
Departure City: 1991-1998-2006
Host City: 2008
Arrival City: 2000-2002
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