Shock announcement in offshore sailing: the legendary La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec is to be replaced by the Classe Ocean Fifty. OC Sport Pen Duick, organiser of the Solitaire du Figaro, announced this morning that the race which has served as offshore sailing's benchmark for more than 50 years will be replaced by an event for Ocean Fifty trimarans—a class with only eleven boats currently in existence. Reaction on French social media has been intense, with many sailors pointing out that the budget required to compete could rise from around €200,000 in the Figaro class to more than €3 million for an Ocean Fifty campaign. Any thoughts about this decision?
The jump from a widely accessible €200, 000 budget to over €3 million sets a high financial barrier that will likely push the sport toward a smaller, more exclusive competitor base rather than broad talent development. That kind of shift usually changes the competitive landscape more than the technology itself does.
La classe (figaro) beneteau a déjà annoncé maintenir une régate similaire à l'actuelle solitaire et un championnat. OC, le Figaro et la classe 50 font clairement faux sur ce coup là. Mais il doit également y avoir des problématiques financières importantes là derrière.
The is undoubtedly much more that is not being said here. Who is not paying OC Sport what they believe they deserve?
I confirm it is not an April 1st joke :-( The very essence of the Solitaire du Figaro, and a race based on the one-design concept since 1990, goes up in smoke :-( Surprising and unexpected ?!
What a shame, I’ll take on organising it!!! Tragedy for the sport
WTF?!
Opportunity to organise a new Figaro race!
Quelle géniale idée ! Bravo OC Sport !!!!
Figaro does not need OC sport - this is an opportunity.