Concarneau to the World: Launching the 2026 Season at the Trophée BPGO
The journey to the 2027 Solitaire du Figaro begins in the waters of Brittany. The Trophée Banque Populaire Grand Ouest (BPGO) will serve as the definitive starting gun for my season. Based in the iconic sailing port of Concarneau, this race is more than just a competition; it is my debut as a skipper on the Figaro circuit and a vital stepping stone in my offshore racing journey.
The Race: A Technical Masterclass
The Trophée BPGO is a grueling 800-mile offshore marathon that winds through the "Iles du Ponant." The course is a navigator's nightmare and a tactician's dream, stretching from the Île d'Aix in the south to the Chausey archipelago in the north. The route is designed to hug the coast, forcing skippers to negotiate complex rocky passages, extreme tidal shifts, and the unpredictable spring weather of the Bay of Biscay and the English Channel. As an official event of the Championnat de France Élite de Course au Large, the BPGO attracts the world's best "Figarists." There is no better place to measure speed and decision-making against the elite.
For a skipper, the 2026 season is about building "miles in the bank." The BPGO offers a unique high-pressure environment to refine boat handling and electronic systems under race conditions.
Success in the Figaro class is built on incremental gains. This event allows me to test sail crossovers, sleep management strategies, and tactical software in a fleet where centimeters often separate the podium from the pack. By competing here, I am laying the foundation required to endure the multi-leg intensity of the Solitaire.
Flying the Silver Fern in Brittany:
Bringing the Silver Fern to Concarneau isn't just about personal pride; it’s about showing that NZ sailors are ready to compete at the highest level of one-design offshore racing. Every mile covered at the BPGO is a message to the international sailing community that we are here to challenge the status quo.
"To be the lone Kiwi voice in a fleet of French maestros is a challenge I relish. We share a common language of the sea, but I’m bringing a New Zealand edge to the start line."
The Road to 2027: The Solitaire Goal
Every tack, gybe, and sail change during the 2026 BPGO is filtered through a single lens: La Solitaire du Figaro 2027.
The Solitaire is widely considered the unofficial world championship of solo offshore sailing. It is a race won by those who have mastered their boats to the point of instinct. By taking command as skipper for the BPGO, I am initiating the 18-month countdown to 2027. This race provides the data, the scars, and the confidence needed to transition from a contender to a specialist in the most demanding solo circuit on the planet.
Southern X Racing is looking forward to its first BPGO event and hope to share every step of the way. Big thanks to current partners and supporters!
Bring on BPGO