Professional BoatBuilder - April-May 2018

APRIL/MAY 2018 13

modi ed the name yet again;

the word Solitaire refers to the

singlehanded requirement of

the event.  e French love

long-distance solo sailing in

its many forms, including

non stop racing around the

world. La Solitaire is regarded

as a sort of train ing ground

for the longer and more dan-

gerous races, a ording ama-

teurs the opportunity to test

their skills and talent for fund-raising. Price for the  rst 50

Figaro Bénéteau 3s was recently announced at the relatively

modest €155,000 ($191,925). A er that, the price jumps to

€175,000 ($216,690).

In 1991 race organizers selected Group Finot to design

the one-design boats, and Bénéteau to build them. A new

design was created in 2003, and now a third one.  e course

and the four ports change each year, usually covering

1,500–2,000 nm along the coast of France and usually one

other country, such as England, Ireland, or Spain. Time at

sea is about 10–13 days.

Bénéteau has established a racing team that among other

duties will oversee construction of the latest design at the

old Jeanneau plant in Nantes-Cheviré. Bénéteau’s Julien

Ferre tells us that reinforcements are “multiaxial glass webs

with polyester resin” and, “all the structural elements are

made in DIAB PVC 80-kg foam in infusion.” Bénéteau

partnered with several subcontractors, including Multiplast

(see PBB No. 90), which made the retractable carbon  ber

foils. Ferre says, “ e port and starboard [foils] are inde-

pendent.  ere is a position to sail upwind and a position

to sail downwind. In the inside position, the foil stays inside

the Bmax value.  ere is also a rake forward/backward to

adjust the incidence of each foil.” Bénéteau’s general man-

ager, Gianguido Girotti, elaborated: “ e idea is to make

sure that when in use, they exploit at maximum [beam] the

righting moment e ect, and once closed, they do not

[exceed] the beam of the [hull].”  at way, mooring and

road transport are easier without having to remove the foils.

Principal speci cations: LOA 10.85m (35' 9 "), hull length

9.75m (32' ), LWL 9m (29.5' ), max beam 3.4m (11.2' ), water-

line beam 2.4m (7.9' ), dra 2.5m (8.2' ), displacement 2,

kg (6,400 lbs), ballast 1,100 kg (2,400 lbs), sail area main and

jib 70m^2 (753 sq  ).

Bénéteau, Gaëlle Violleau, tel. +33 (0) 251605204, web-

site http://www.beneteau.com. —Dan Spurr

The keel blade and bulb are

positioned under the hull, ready

for connection.

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