Meet Anne-Claire Le Berre and Gaston Morvan

At 41 and 26 respectively, Anne-Claire and Gaston are an experienced duo. While they have not sailed together much - Anne-Claire was racing in the Ocean Race - they have spent a lot of time on the water since January. While Gaston has plenty of memories of the Transat, the duo from Région Bretagne - CMB Performance are keen to give themselves the best chance of winning.

• Why participate in the Transat Paprec?

Anne-Claire: "It's a major race in the Figaro circuit, which has been around for a long time. There is a lot at stake and a very good level. This transatlantic race will be interesting to gain experience, to get used to it. Our ambition is to do our best and aim for the highest possible step on the podium. And we have the team and the boat to achieve this!"

Gaston: "This is a great race of the season, one of the two monuments with the Solitaire du Figaro. This race has always made me dream since I was a kid. I had the opportunity to go to Saint-Barthélemy to follow my father who was participating in it and I have fond memories of it. I've wanted to do this race for a long time, I was frustrated not to participate two years ago. I'm glad it's my turn!"

• The story of your pairing? 

Anne-Claire: "I really wanted to be able to participate in the Transat Paprec with someone who could potentially win. Gaston has this profile: he has a good experience, is very promising and continues to progress... We are very complementary on board. That allows us to check off all the boxes!"

Gaston: "I wanted to do the Paprec Transat with someone who has experience, a taste for effort and the technical qualities to achieve it. When I knew that Anne-Claire was available, it was a godsend! She has a wealth of experience between Olympic sailing, IMOCA, the Mini Transat... It's particularly motivating to be associated with her."

• How important is the gender mix for you?

Anne-Claire: "I think it's a great initiative from the Transat Paprec. It offers a lot of opportunities for women to take part in these races. Even if there were already several mixed or female duos on the race, this was not the most common one. It's a really positive idea."

Gaston: "It's definitely a novelty! I am sure that it is a change that will not alter the race. It's a very good initiative!"

• How do you plan your daily life on board?

Anne-Claire: "This is one of the key points and one of the major challenges of this race because it's long and we don't know each other very well. The apprehension and the question mark is how it will be on board. After that, crossing the Atlantic and going to the other side, I know well, it will not be a problem!"

Gaston: "It is sure that we have very few square meters to live! But it doesn't scare me, I know that humanly speaking, it will go well. It's part of the sport and the adventure! And comfort is secondary to the confrontation with the others, the strategy, the weather analysis... We hope that we will see some great matches, comfort will be secondary!"