Basile Bourgnon at the start of his first Solitaire du Figaro

On August 21, 2022, Basile Bourgnon, the Edenred skipper, will set off on his first Solitaire du Figaro, the main event of the circuit. At 20, he is one of the 34 competitors entered in this 53^rd edition of the summer classic. On the program: three stages for a course of around 2,000 miles on which Basile hopes to take first place in the rookie ranking.

Learning with the best at the Pôle Finistère Course au Large

Committed to Edenred for three years on the Figaro circuit, Basile joined the best of schools at the start of the year to give himself every opportunity to train and progress quickly. Located in Port-La-Forêt, the Pôle Finistère Course au Large is a training center of excellence unique in France.The greatest sailors learned their skills here: François Gabart, Michel Desjoyeaux or Armel Le Cléac’h. “I needed to be surrounded by the best to discover this new support and feed on the experience of my coaches but also of other competitors. The pre-season races are essential to become aware of what the rhythm of three stages of the Solitaire du Figaro represents. I feel like I'm making progress all the time, it's exhilarating," explains Basile, who had a promising start to the season: winner of the Drheam-Cup with Robin Follin, 2^nd in the Solo Maître CoQ rookie ranking and 5^th in the outcome of the BPGO Trophy – On the Road to the Ponant Islands 2022 with Yann Eliès, 1^st Rookie of the Le Havre Allmer Cup.

Objective for Basile: the rookie ranking

This most feared race for sailors will take place this year in three stages on a 2,000-mile course between Nantes, Port La Forêt, Royan and Saint-Nazaire via England and Spain. Among the 34 competitors, 9 rookies will try to win the first place which rewards the best beginners. "That's my goal, and as always at the start of each of the events I take part in, I go there giving the best". Unlike the other events of the season, La Solitaire du Figaro is played based on cumulative time over each of the stages: “I'm going to have to navigate a little differently. Fleet control will be very important over these three marathon stages. I'm going to have to learn to be a little more calm and take risks in a controlled way”, specifies the skipper of Edenred Figaro.

Unwavering support from the Edenred Group

“I am proud of the path Basile has traveled with Edenred for 4 years now. Mature and hardworking, he gives the best of himself every day to perfect his learning in Figaro 3 and achieve his ambitions. Basile had a great first season on the Figaro circuit, which will end with the Solitaire. “Legends are born here”. Everything is said in the maxim, which reflects this mythical race. Fair winds to Basile for this first Solitaire du Figaro. He can count on the support of Edenred's 10,000 employees across 45 countries,” said Bertrand Dumazy, Chairman and CEO of the Edenred Group.