The Figaro Beneteau class held its general assembly on December 9. There the 2022 calendar was adopted and the creation of an Academy was validated. This initiative is intended to facilitate access to the circuit for newcomers. This is seen as a necessity for a class that is seeing the number of participants on the circuit dropping.
With just 34 participants competing, the 2021 edition of La Solitaire du Figaro had the fewest entrants for more than 20 years. This is a downwards trend that contrasts with other offshore classes. "We realise that things are sold out on the Mini Transat and that there are plenty of new projects in Class40, while for us, there seem to be less and less people", recognises Estelle Graveleau, Director of the Team Vendee Formation and member of the class's board of directors.
Howth's Marcus Hutchinson has just been elected vice-president of the class
Amateurs are now almost non-existent, the class says.
From an Irish perspective, Ireland has had a small but continued interest in the Figaro most recently recording Ireland's top ever result in the race, fifth overall in 2020, thanks to the exploits of France-based Tom Dolan of County Meath.
And after two seasons in France campaigning a Figaro 3 in both double-handed and solo sailing disciplines, it has become apparent to Irish offshore sailor Kenny Rumball that there are no grassroots feeds to the professional offshore racing scene in Ireland. The Dun Laoghaire Harbour sailor intends to rectify this with his new Offshore Racing Academy.
The explanations for the decline are diverse. "Unlike other races which are based on flagship events every two or maybe four years, the Figaro class needs to organize its main race, La Solitaire du Figaro every year. In itself that was a feat last year to run the race but we have suffered more than others from the health crisis, it was very complicated to set up a schedule," Howth native Marcus Hutchinson, who has just been elected vice-president of the class, told Tip and Shaft website.
More on the Figaro Beneteau class efforts to introduce new sailors here on the Tip and Shaft website
