Cap St Barth, the desire to dare!
- Antoine Grenapin
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
They created a surprise by positioning themselves among the frontrunners right from yesterday’s coastal course, then managing to keep up the pace throughout the evening and into Monday. Cindy Brin and Thomas André have never competed in the Transat Paprec before. A sailing instructor and the first native of Saint Barthélemy to take part in the race, Cindy often says this is “the dream of a lifetime.” Thomas, proud of his Breton roots, cut his teeth in the Mini class and is now in his second year in the Figaro circuit—clearly not lacking in talent. This is the compelling story of Cap St Barth, whose arrival is eagerly awaited in the Caribbean’s crown jewel.
WHAT TO REMEMBER FROM THE LAST 24 HOURS
The duo Cindy Brin & Thomas André (Cap Saint Barth) finished first in the coastal course after the start.
Crowds gathered on Sunday along the dock, the coastline, and at sea to cheer on the skippers.
After the first night at sea, the fleet remains tightly packed, with only 14 nautical miles between the boats and 11 miles in lateral separation.
As of the 3 p.m. ranking, the duo Hugo Dhallenne and Charlotte Yven (Skipper Macif), slightly further west, were in the lead, ahead of Martin Le Pape and Mathilde Géron (Demain).
The leading boats are expected to reach Cape Finisterre by tomorrow evening.
FEATURE STORY OF THE DAY
In recent days at the Transat Paprec race village, Cindy Brin often wore large sunglasses, hiding both her face and the dark circles under her eyes. She admitted, somewhat reluctantly, that the final week before departure had been “a bit tough.” Born and raised in Saint Barthélemy, Cindy cited the cold and unpredictable weather in Concarneau—but it was clear there was more to it. She was about to leave her two children for nearly three weeks, and above all, take on a major challenge. Because for Cindy, the Transat Paprec is not just any race. “Being here is the dream of a lifetime, a 20-year project,” she said again yesterday.
“We clicked from the start”
It’s a beautiful story: Cindy was born and raised in Saint Barthélemy. From a young age, she was captivated by the arrivals of the Transat Paprec—sailors from mainland France, their faces shaped by exertion and salt spray, and the celebrations that welcomed them, bringing with them a whole world of imagination. Now a sailing instructor, it was actually her students who pushed her to take the leap. “I always encourage my young sailors to give their best and follow their dreams,” she explained a month ago. “When I told them about the transatlantic race, they said, ‘Go for it, Cindy, you have to do it!’”
But preparation was never taken lightly. Cindy chose to spend the winter in mainland France, far from the warmth of Saint Barth. She tested the boat in October and did several trials with different skippers to find the right teammate. With Thomas André, she says the chemistry was immediate. Thomas made a name for himself representing Diwan (Breton-language schools) during his Mini class years. He’s a consistent performer: 5th in the 2023 Mini Transat and a strong Figaro rookie season (6th at the 2024 Trophée Laura Vergne). This Breton sailor loves the duo he forms with Cindy, “a bridge between two regions”—Brittany and Saint Barthélemy—just like the spirit of the Transat Paprec.
“They’re both showing how fast they can learn”
At the start, emotions ran high. Cindy’s mother was in tears. Her children, partner, and close friends were there too. Thomas could count on his girlfriend, family, and friends. “The start was incredibly intense and emotional,” Thomas said this morning. But once the emotion faded, they threw themselves into the race with passion.
Their shared joy in sailing together was visible from the very first moments. In the coastal course, they managed to mix it up with the leaders. At one point, they even briefly took the lead in the Concarneau channel. “Racing up front with the top sailors was a great gift for our loved ones and already an amazing memory,” said Thomas.
As the fleet raced through the Bay of Biscay, the pair held strong and ended the evening in third place. After the first night, they were in 6th, neck-and-neck with favorites Jules Ducelier and Sophie Faguet (Région Normandie). But nothing came easy: Thomas admitted both of them got seasick during the night. “We gritted our teeth as best we could, but we’re feeling better now,” he reassured.
Regardless, “their start to the race is incredible,” said race director Francis Le Goff enthusiastically. “They have a lot of strengths: she’s a sailing instructor, he’s been progressing quickly in the Figaro since last year, and both of them are showing how fast they can learn.”
This remarkable start holds great promise for them and sends a powerful message about the growing sailing culture in Saint Barthélemy. Cindy is also blazing a trail for the youth she teaches. Among them is 10-year-old Stanley Haes, who recently placed third at the Spring International Cup in Martigues in Optimist. After his victory, Stanley and his family traveled to Concarneau to cheer on Cindy—a taste of what’s to come when she arrives in Saint Barthélemy. “It’s going to be something special,” she said just before leaving. “I think I know what to expect, but I really don’t know how big the welcome will be.” With a cheeky smile, Thomas added: “A lot of skippers want to finish ahead of us just so they can be at the party. But we want to arrive before them!”
QUOTES
Martin Le Pape (Demain):“Everything’s fine aboard Demain. We had a wet night with thirty knots of wind, but nothing out of the ordinary. In terms of speed, it’s going well—we’re a bit further east compared to the rest of the fleet, especially Skipper Macif and Région Normandie. We’ll see what that means in a few days when we cross the calm at Cape Finisterre.”
Davy Beaudart (Hellowork):“After a lively start in Concarneau Bay, we began with a reaching leg under gennaker. It was intense and close-hauled at times, with gusts up to 30 knots and lots of spray. The boat was heeling and practically underwater. Then it started easing up as we approached the front. We kept sailing close-hauled in about ten knots of wind until the front passed over us, bringing heavy rain for about two hours. Once the front cleared near the end of the night, the wind shifted to the northwest, and we hoisted the gennaker again. It’s been wet and intense, but now it’s starting to ease off. And we’ve even seen a bit of sunshine!”
