Sharp Form on Display as Dolan Prepares for Defending His Historic Title in the 2025 Solitaire du Figaro

The Fig’Armor race, with its intense competition and challenging conditions, has established its landmark as the warm-up race for the Solitaire du Figaro. This year, Irish offshore sailor Tom Dolan has delivered an outstanding performance by securing second place. His achievement comes as an astute demonstration of readiness to defend his historic title in the Solitaire du Figaro, slated to commence on September 7. Teaming up with French sailor Gaston Morvan aboard the Figaro 3 Kingspan, Dolan purveyed exceptional form, completing a gruelling 200 nautical mile course in a blistering one day, 21 hours, and 3 minutes timeframe. He arrived a mere half an hour behind the victor, sending an uncompromising message of intent to his competition. Much more than a race, the Fig’Armor offers sailors a crucible to fine-tune boat handling, tactical decision-making, and onboard systems, putting them through their paces in anticipation of the major event. ‘The Solitaire is a completely different beast, it’s long, relentless, and solo,’ Dolan commented, acknowledging the hard road ahead. ‘This was a good final test. The learning never stops, especially after my few months in the IMOCA. Now, I’m poised to spend the upcoming weeks for further fine-tuning. I’m ready for the challenge.’ Now, with support from Kingspan, Dolan’s long-term partner in sustainable high-performance, the focus has shifted towards the final preparations. It’s a step closer towards his anticipated return to what is widely considered the toughest proving ground in solo racing.