The 17th edition of the Transat Paprec will set sail from Concarneau on 20 April 2025
OC Sport Pen Duick, at the helm of the Transat Paprec, has today published the notice of race detailing the rules for participating in the 17th edition of the historic event, which will once again set sail from Concarneau (Finistère) on 20 April 2025 at 13:02. Registration for the only transatlantic race in mixed doubles and on equal terms, which will reach Saint-Barthélemy (French Antilles) via a waypoint in La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain), is now open.
To remember in this press release:
The notice of race for the 17th edition of the Transat Paprec has been published
The start will be given from Concarneau on April 20, 2025
The concept of the mixed double, inaugurated in 2023, will be renewed in 2025
Registrations are open, with an ‘early birds’ rate until September 23
Since its creation in 1992, the Transat Paprec (formerly Transat en double Concarneau – Saint-Barthélemy, formerly Transat AG2R La Mondiale), which has seen the emergence of many ocean racing legends and trained several generations of sailors, has not aged a day. If the race still attracts so many French and foreign Figaro sailors, it is because in addition to the purely sporting aspect, its purpose is to allow young sailors from all backgrounds to learn their trade on a physically and mentally demanding course. Armel Le Cléac’h, double winner of the race (2004, 2010), would not disagree: “In 2004, it was my first transatlantic. It was a great experience because there was victory at the end, but especially because we did it double-handed. It allowed me not to go too fast in my development on the circuit. I found it great to do it in Figaro because we were on equal terms. There was a real fight for three weeks. It helped me a lot. As always, when it’s the first time, you make up a lot of stories, whether it’s for a transatlantic, a round the world or a Solitaire du Figaro Paprec. Once you’ve done it, you don’t see things the same way anymore.” The skipper of the Maxi Banque Populaire XI was thus able to capitalise on the experience gained in double-handed racing to learn the ropes on a one-design boat, before achieving the success that we know him for. An opinion shared by Camille Bertel (Cap Ingélec), who raced the Transat Paprec 2023. “The double-handed race helped me a lot in my first year of Figaro. The Transat Paprec allowed me to learn and train with a co-skipper who was much more experienced than me: Pierre Leboucher. I made this choice based on his skills and what he could bring me in terms of experience. I really want to take part in the 2025 edition,” says the young woman, who will be taking part in La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec for the first time this year.
Promoting access to offshore racing for women sailors
The race, which appeals beyond borders, also has the mission of promoting access to offshore racing for women since it became mixed last year under the impetus of OC Sport Pen Duick and the Paprec group, its Title Partner. "I did my first offshore race last year, in the Transat Paprec. I had been sailing for ten years on Maxi Yachts and I really wanted to get into the industry. I met Edouard Golbery in 2022. He played the role of mentor, both in terms of finding sponsors and training, until this incredible Atlantic crossing in a race. Doing this race with him gave me the confidence to build my own Mini project. “I am now preparing for the next edition of the Mini Transat, which will take place in 2025,” says Alicia de Pfyffer, a Swiss sailor who took part in the 2023 edition of the Transat Paprec with Edouard Golbery (Race for Science – Verder).
An unchanged course
The course of the Transat Paprec, committed while remaining accessible to new Figaro sailors, will remain unchanged for its 17th edition. On the menu for the mixed duos: 3,890 nautical miles between Concarneau and Saint-Barthélemy, with a single course mark (29°00’00 N & 017°52’00 W) at La Palma to leave to starboard. A waypoint that will force the sailors to head a little south in order to encourage the participation of novice or inexperienced crews, the route being less committed than a more northerly route. “The course is open, with a single waypoint that will force the competitors to make a strategic choice: go around it to take a more northerly route and stay close to the orthodromic route (the direct route), or head very south along the coast of Africa before turning right in the hope of hitting a stronger trade wind,” explains Francis Le Goff, Race Director of the Transat Paprec.
Thus, the City of Concarneau, Queen of Cornouaille, will once again host the start of the race, as has been the case every two years since 2006. Resolutely turned towards the open sea and accustomed to major sailing events, the Blue City, which lives to the rhythm of the tides, has seen many sailors cut their teeth in its magnificent bay, between the ramparts of the walled city and the Glénan archipelago. "It is with great impatience that we await the Transat Paprec 2025! Concarneau is proud to support OC Sport Pen Duick in the construction of this offshore race anchored in the Concarneau maritime landscape since 2006.
This event launches the tourist season every two years and brings a scent of adventure to the City. Sheltered by the century-old ramparts, while onlookers visit the village and enjoy the entertainment on offer, the Figaro crews finalize their last adjustments to be ready to do battle. The departure from Concarneau Bay is always a very strong moment for sailing enthusiasts and lovers of great shows,” says Marc Bigot, Mayor of Concarneau.
And as has been the tradition since the first edition of the race, the community of Saint-Barthélemy, the jewel of the French Antilles, will celebrate the sailors in a warm and festive atmosphere specific to Saint-Barths. An opportunity for everyone to discover or rediscover this little corner of paradise bathed in crystal clear waters, whose fauna and flora are matched only by its postcard-perfect white sand beaches. "Over the years, Saint-Barthélemy has always been proud to host a unique race, which has always known how to reinvent itself while being a true talent revealer. In 2023, the Transat Paprec has succeeded in becoming the first 100% mixed double-handed transatlantic race. Next year, Saint-Barthélemy will once again be ready to properly welcome these sailors for whom the seafarers who are the inhabitants of the island have the greatest respect," says Xavier Lédée, President of the Territorial Council - Saint-Barthélemy. Once the finish line is crossed, the skippers will moor in the port of Gustavia where the race arrival village will be located.
Registrations are open!
The publication of the notice of race marks the opening of registrations for the 17th edition of the Transat Paprec. An ‘early birds’ rate is offered to competitors registering before September 23, 2024. The deadline for registration requests to benefit from preferential pricing conditions is December 31, 2024.
Ils ont dit :
Sébastien Petithuguenin, Directeur Général du groupe Paprec :
« La Transat Paprec incarne parfaitement les valeurs qui sont chères à Paprec : le dépassement de soi, l'égalité des chances et le respect de l'environnement.
L'arrivée de Paprec en tant que Partenaire Titre à l'occasion de l'édition 2023 a permis l'évolution du format de cette course, devenant ainsi la première transatlantique en double mixte. Notre objectif est de permettre à davantage de femmes d’accéder au plus haut niveau de la course au large. Notre engagement dans la voile est plus qu'un simple sponsoring, c'est une façon de contribuer à un écosystème durable et équitable, tout en renforçant notre propre ADN de compétiteurs.
La première Transat Paprec a donné à voir des performances exceptionnelles et une combativité remarquable de la part des participants. Je suis très fier de constater que quatre des six premiers arrivés de cette édition avaient déjà navigué sous les couleurs Paprec. Cela confirme le rôle important de notre entreprise dans cette filière d’excellence qu’est la voile.
J'encourage les navigateurs et navigatrices à se lancer dans cette aventure unique, à relever le défi de traverser l’Atlantique en double mixte, et à démontrer, une fois de plus, le haut niveau de cette compétition. Mettez-vous sur les rangs d’une expérience qui allie compétition de haut niveau et valeurs humaines essentielles. »
Julie Coutts, Directrice Générale d’OC Sport Pen Duick :
« La publication de l’avis de course donne le coup d’envoi de la 17e édition de la Transat Paprec. Depuis sa création, cette transatlantique fortement ancrée dans le paysage de la course au large française et internationale a permis à plusieurs générations de marins d'y faire leurs armes en double sur un support monotype. En 2025, nous renouvellerons l'initiative de mixité introduite en 2023, répondant ainsi aux enjeux sociétaux et sportifs d’aujourd’hui et de demain. Nous sommes convaincus que le plateau sportif reflètera le dynamisme de la Classe Figaro BENETEAU et de la course au large, et permettra à de nombreuses femmes, ainsi qu’à de jeunes skippers français et étrangers, de participer à cette course statutaire du circuit. »
Jean-Bernard Le Boucher, Président de la Classe Figaro BENETEAU :
« En avril 2025, la Classe Figaro Beneteau célèbrera, avec OC Sport Pen Duick, Paprec et la Fédération Française de Voile, la 17e édition de la Transat Paprec. Unique transatlantique en double du circuit, devenue 100% mixte en 2023 sous l’impulsion de son partenaire titre, elle propose aux navigatrices et navigateurs de talent un parcours de 3 890 milles nautiques entre Concarneau et Saint-Barthélemy. En 2023, ils étaient 11 Figaro Beneteau 3 à s’aligner sur le départ. La Classe Figaro Beneteau est à la disposition des équipages et des centres d'entraînement pour favoriser la participation du plus grand nombre de bateaux à cette magnifique épreuve, inscrite au Championnat de France Elite de Course au large. Quels marins succèderont à Loïs Berrehar et Charlotte Yven, tenants du titre à bord du Figaro Beneteau 3 Skipper Macif ? Rendez-vous le 20 avril 2025 pour suivre cette belle aventure ! »
