Solitaire du Figaro Paprec: the triumph of Corentin Horeau, winner of the 54th edition

Special envoy to Piriac-sur-Mer

The joy is total for Corentin Horeau, winner of the 54th edition of the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec at 34 years old. “It's a dream that I've had since I was little and for my 7th participation, I felt that I was doing well this year, with good preparation,” he admitted Thursday morning. There was support from Banque Populaire at the last moment to do this. This adds an extra dose of confidence. It's a bit like the dream sponsor, it's the sailing bank and I've seen them since I was a kid. »

Under the influence of emotion, the Trinitain gave himself his big dream last night when he arrived at 3:42 a.m. Departing from Roscoff (Finistère) on Sunday and before a grueling journey along the Atlantic coast, he was eight minutes behind the leader of the general classification Basile Bourgnon (Edenred).

But by finishing in 7th position in a stage dominated by rookie Benoît Tuduri, Horeau closed this gap and even took a fifteen-minute lead overall over Bourgnon, his first pursuer.

“I don’t really realize, I’ve been thinking about it for 24 hours. I didn't want to miss this one? It's not the most beautiful Solitaire, I sailed like an accountant I would say. By evolving in the fleet without taking too much risk. But it was the way to win this year. And winning this event allows you to move on to superior boats.”

Fifteenth at the end of the first stage in Kinsale in Ireland, then second on arrival in Roscoff, the Trinitain, a graduate of the Merchant Navy, demonstrated unfailing consistency to win his first Solitaire in seven participations .

Once calm has returned, Horeau also analyzes the race and the competition in this 2023 edition. “I did not think that Basile Bourgnon (Edenred) was going to be at this level in the Solitaire. I sailed with him on the Tour de Bretagne and I saw that he was very good and super clean. But from there to making shots, to dominating as he did, hats off to him. He will win Solitaires, that's for sure, he's only 21 years old. He's a great friend and with Loïs Berrehar (Skipper Macif 2022, 3rd overall with 27 minutes and 11 seconds behind), the podium is 100% Trinitan. I'm happy for Loïs because last year, at the same time, we were at rock bottom. Lewis Hamilton said that it's not the fall that's important, it's the power of the rebound. »

On Benoît Tuduri (CAPSO En Cavale), winner of the 3rd stage in Piriac-sur-mer on Thursday morning, the praise is also there. “It’s great, it’s the next generation. It sails really well. He doesn't navigate like an accountant. Whenever there is an opportunity, he takes it. In the shoes of a favorite, it's more complicated to jump on every opportunity. He's having fun and he too will win one day. »