19 mixed duos determined to make their mark on the Transat Paprec
by Transat Paprec 20 Mar 17:49 GMT
20 April 2025
Transat Paprec conference © Thomas Deregnieaux - Qaptur
A key race in the calendar and in the French Elite Ocean Racing Championship, the first transatlantic race to be sailed on equal terms and to be entirely mixed since the previous edition, the Transat Paprec, the full line-up of which was unveiled today, promises a great battle across the Atlantic.
Who will succeed Charlotte Yven and Loïs Berrehar?
The countdown is on. On the 20th April, nineteen mixed duos will set off aboard their Figaro Beneteau 3s to take on the Atlantic. Before diving in with enthusiasm and savouring the joys of the start in Concarneau and then the race to Saint-Barthelemy, all the skippers and partners have gathered at Paprec Bretagne's headquarters in Le Rheu, a few kilometres from Rennes. On the programme: the unveiling of the full line-up to the press and a studious day of media meetings before donning the foulies in a month's time!
A promising second 100% mixed event
Today was an opportunity to look ahead to what promises to be a particularly challenging edition. In 2023, the arrival of Paprec as title partner gave impetus to a first edition contested entirely by mixed duos. Two years later, this principle has become an integral part of the DNA of the Transat Paprec, with the number of participants almost doubling from eleven to nineteen pairs. The race is also becoming more international, with seven skippers from abroad and five nationalities represented (France, England, Scotland, Italy and Switzerland).
What's more, by spearheading the gender mix, the Transat Paprec is contributing to the emergence of female and male sailors at the highest level. This is the case for title holder Charlotte Yven (Skipper Macif) as well as youngsters Lola Billy (Bretagne CMB Océane) and Laure Galley (DMG MORI Academy). At the same time, a number of sailors are gradually discovering the Figaro Beneteau 3, such as Aglaé Ribon (Almond for Pure People), Pier-Paolo Dean and Tiphaine Rideau (Banques Alimentaires), Arno Biston and Vittoria Ripa de Meana (Article.1) and the British duo of Ellie Driver and Oliver Hill (Women's Engineering Society).
A strong and experienced field
As far as the final victory and the places of honour are concerned, it's difficult to hazard any predictions, given the sheer number of talented sailors on the starting line. In addition to their automatic skills aboard the Figaro Beneteau 3s, some of them also have valuable experience in other classes. Indeed, Martin Le Pape and Davy Beaudart have already completed transatlantic races in the IMOCA class, Corentin Horeau has taken part in several races in the Ultim class, Audrey Ogereau and Quentin Vlamynck have performed well in the Ocean Fifty class, as have Estelle Greck in the Class40 class and Mathilde Géron in Olympic sailing.
The race, undoubtedly the most eagerly awaited event on the sailing planet in the spring of 2025, owes a great deal to the involvement of all its partners. As a major supporter of ocean racing, the Paprec Group is committed to promoting gender diversity, inclusiveness and equal opportunities.
The transatlantic race, organised by OC Sport, is also supported by a number of particularly committed local authorities, including the Brittany Region, the town of Concarneau and the CCI Finistère, as well as the Territorial Collectivity of Saint-Barthélemy, all of which are helping to raise the profile of the race at the start and finish. It's a collective adventure to guarantee the best possible show from the opening of the village on Tuesday the 15th of April.
Seiko becomes Official Partner of the Transat Paprec
Since it was founded in 1881, Seiko has embodied excellence in watchmaking precision and sports timing. With over 140 years of innovation behind it, the brand has always risen to the challenge and pushed back the limits of performance. Seiko has established itself as a major player in the world of timekeeping, supporting prestigious sporting events while affirming its commitment to precision and rigour. The Prospex collection embodies this quest for excellence with watches designed to withstand the most extreme conditions, combining robustness, functionality and elegance. Through Prospex and its motto 'Keep Going Forward', Seiko continues to pay tribute to the sea and the spirit of conquest, while proudly bearing its values of innovation, passion and challenge.
Corsair renews its commitment to the transatlantic race
An Official Partner of the race since 2021, Corsair is a scheduled French long-haul airline which employs 1,100 staff and flies 1.5 million passengers a year. It operates flights to the Caribbean (Guadeloupe, Martinique), the Indian Ocean (Reunion Island, Mauritius, Mayotte, Madagascar) and Africa (Ivory Coast, Mali, Benin), from Paris/Orly, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux and Nantes.
Dates not to be missed:
- Tuesday April 15th: Opening of the village in Concarneau and the Alex Picot Challenge (prologue)
- Sunday April 20th: Start of the race
- Wednesday May 7th / Thursday May 8th: Estimated arrival of the first boats in Saint-Barthélemy
Quotes:
Julie COUTTS, Managing Director of OC Sport Pen Duick: 'In 2023, it was a daring gamble, and we know that gender diversity may have been an obstacle. Today, we're delighted to be celebrating the quality of this sporting line-up, but also its density - the contract has been fulfilled. In three weeks' time, the village will open its doors for five days, a period that we deliberately wanted to be shorter, but with a denser schedule of events. The regions and local authorities have joined forces to energise the local fabric. It's going to be a great six days of festivities, with three evening events. Then it's time for the sailors to set sail for Saint Barthélemy. The whole island will be alive with the arrival of the race.'
Sébastien PETITHUGUENIN, Managing Director of Paprec: 'We support ocean racing because it is one of France's areas of excellence. We want to encourage people to take up the sport. Our aim is to contribute to the development of this sector and in particular to ensure that it is accessible to all. Through the Transat Paprec, we want to enable female sailors to develop their experience and skills in contact with more seasoned sailors. It's in the details that the victories in major races are decided: sleep management, a detailed understanding of the weather and the boat's settings, etc. The selective course of this race lends itself to this, combining a section requiring fine tactics in the Bay of Biscay and along the coast of Portugal, followed by a sprint in the trade winds as far as the West Indies. At Paprec, we're certain that tomorrow we'll be seeing women on the podiums of the biggest ocean races, and that Transat Paprec will have contributed to that!'
Loïg CHESNAIS-GIRARD, President of the Brittany Region: 'With this second edition of the double-handed Transat Paprec, ocean racing is part of a societal dynamic aimed at opening up ocean sailing to women. The Brittany Region has taken up the issue of equality between men and women in ocean racing in 2019 by creating 'Région Bretagne-CMB Océane', the first professional detection and training scheme in the discipline to offer support exclusively dedicated to women so that they can reach the top of their sport and inspire a generation of young people. I wish all the competitors who will set off from Concarneau good luck and hope that this 100% all-women transatlantic race will inspire new female vocations and help to democratise women's sailing!'
Marc BIGOT, Mayor of Concarneau: 'Concarneau is once again the starting point for an exceptional human and sporting adventure during the Transat Paprec. This race illustrates the passion for the open sea, the diversity and excellence of the sailors. We're proud to welcome skippers and visitors for a week of festivities before the big departure for Saint-Barthélemy!'
Jean-François GARREC, President of the Quimper Delegation of the CCI Finistère: 'Cornouaille benefits from an exceptional natural setting, but remains isolated from the major economic centres. Cooperation between the economic, political and institutional worlds is therefore essential to consolidate the local ecosystem, in which the marine sector is predominant. The Finistère Chamber of Commerce and Industry plays an essential role in this area, bringing together public and private players to organise major nautical events in Cornouaille's ports. The Transat Paprec is one of these high-profile events, enhancing the image and visibility of our region beyond its borders and helping to attract the skills, ambitions and energy needed for its development.'
Xavier LÉDÉE, President of the Territorial Council of Saint-Barthélemy: 'For this 17th edition of the Transat Paprec, which starts from Concarneau, the local authority has taken on board the scale of the event by mobilising a great deal of human and financial resources, in partnership with the Territorial Tourism Committee. We are convinced that the event will be worthy of these investments, and that the image of our island will once again shine through. Visitors and locals alike will be able to enjoy a very festive atmosphere, with some great moments of conviviality. Let's hope that the race lives up to all our expectations and that the skippers will be sailing in favourable seas.'
Charles BLETRY, COO - Head of Sales & Marketing Seiko France & Italy: 'Seiko has a long history of involvement in the marine world, particularly through its collections specially designed for extreme environments, such as diving watches, which are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year. We are delighted to be associated with these two legendary races, the Transat Paprec and the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec, and to become their official timekeeper. This partnership reflects our commitment to the maritime world and to performance. The ocean has a special place in Seiko's identity, through its partnerships with adventurers of the seas and its commitment to preserving the oceans'.
Pascal DE IZAGUIRRE, Chairman and CEO of Corsair: 'Renewing our commitment to the Transat Paprec was an obvious choice. This race embodies values that are dear to Corsair, and just like the skippers in their quest for excellence, we do everything we can to offer our customers a voyage of the highest standards. This partnership also reflects our attachment to the territories we serve and our desire to promote events that honour them'.