THE Isle of Wight-based Artemis Offshore Academy’s armada of British offshore solo sailors will again compete in the Solitaire du Figaro race next year.

Sam Matson, Alan Roberts, Nick Cherry, Henry Bomby and 2015 Academy rookies Robin Elsey, Rob Bunce and Andrew Baker will sail the 47th edition of the Solitaire which will start from Bordeaux on May 31.

The fleet will travel down the Atlantic coast to Spain, before returning to France, Torbay in Devon, with the finish line in Dieppe.

The length of the race is 2,015 miles – representing the year 2015.

Rookies Elsey, Bunce and Baker made their first Figaro delivery across the channel in perfect downwind conditions, but in biting cold weather.

Arriving in Lorient last weekend, the sailors are now settling in for four months of training, with practice races in between. The trio will be joined by the Academy’s Alumni sailors in the New Year.

Cherry, 29, from Southampton, is delighted the Figaro will take in a stopover in England.

“I first raced at Torbay during the Optimist nationals in 1996 and since then I've been back countless times,” he said.

“I’m sure the stopover will be a memorable event."

“Coming to Torbay during the Solitaire will feel like a bit of a home coming for all of us British skippers.

“Seeing the welcoming faces of friends, family and the growing number of solo sailing fans in the south west will be a huge boost after a tough three legs.

Elsey, 22, also from Southampton, has described competing in the 2015 Figaro is an “amazing opportunity.”

“The delivery was awesome,” he said off their arrival in Lorient.

“We couldn't have had better conditions, the Figaros blasting downwind across the channel, before reaching down the French coast.

“This week has been spent getting the boats ready ahead of out first week in training.

“I am looking forward to getting into the French way of life, training hard and making the most of this amazing opportunity."