PureSolo is a Beneteau Figaro II.
The Figaro is a hugely successful
one-design class in France and is growing internationally every season. The
Figaro is designed and built for single-handed and short-handed offshore and
ocean racing. In France the class is seen as the training ground for the top
open 60 sailors. Some of who return year after year to compete in the highly
competitive Figaro circuit.
The Figaro Class rules are very strict, and
emphasis within the class is focused on boat speed and the skills of the skipper
rather than the budgets and technology. Unfortunately as the OSTAR is an IRC
race, PureSolo will be sailed out of class under handicap. Because of the 250
litres of water ballast on each side of the boat, the Figaro’s rating is normally
quite highly, meaning on corrected time the result of the Figaro maybe pretty
poor, but on the water she should perform well.
Hannah has been down in Port la Foret, one
of the training grounds for the Figaro, getting some guidance and training from
Liz Wardley, the owner of the boat and also a very successful Figaro skipper,
having been on the circuit for the last 4 years. The Figaro class’s attention
to boat development and maneuvers, not to mention refinement of equipment and
systems are awe-inspiring. It is very apparent having spent time in Port La
Foret why France produces so many high quality single-handed skippers.