A High-Tension Weekend Ahead

At sea for six days, the competitors have already covered a quarter of the Transat Paprec route. After crossing the Bay of Biscay, rounding Cape Finisterre, and sailing along the Portuguese coast, they’ve picked up the pace at the latitude of North Africa. The fleet is now approaching Madeira and already considering their strategy for rounding La Palma, a key waypoint on the route to Saint Barthélemy, which they are expected to pass on Saturday evening. Conditions there are forecast to be lively, prompting the duos to remain vigilant. Here's a breakdown of what's at stake this weekend.

This is a weekend where there will be no room for letting up or relaxing. In the Transat Paprec, there’s no chance for competitors to get real rest or “switch off” — that luxury is reserved for those on land. “We try to sleep between watches, but it’s tough,” said Alexis Thomas (Wings of the Ocean) last night. “The others aren’t giving an inch, and that keeps us on our toes.”

Above all, the pace is expected to pick up even more throughout the weekend — and not just because the boats are charging full speed ahead towards the south.

Madeira in Sight

Throughout the day, the crews have worked hard to get closer to the islands of Porto Santo and Madeira. While their progress may look like a straight line on the race tracker, the reality is quite different. Getting closer to a high-pressure ridge brings instability, meaning some boats can be sailing 2 to 3 knots faster than their neighbors! As a result, DMG MORI Academy (Laure Galley and Kevin Bloch), as well as Les Étoiles Filantes (Quentin Vlamynck and Audrey Ogereau), made some slight course adjustments.

The immediate goal is to round the Portuguese islands of Porto Santo and Madeira. With a large wind shadow to the west, the entire fleet has opted to pass to the east.

“We’re staying on edge,” said race leader Martin Le Pape (Demain). “Everyone’s pushing hard to catch a right-hand wind shift and more pressure along Madeira,” added Arno Bisto (Article1). “The gybing game has begun in a moderate way, but it’s expected to ramp up this evening and into the night,” confirmed Yann Chateau from Race Management.

"It takes some serious thinking!"

Next up: La Palma, with just as much intensity. The forecast is lively, though not chaotic — 20 to 25 knots of wind with little swell. Still, full concentration will be essential. “It’s a slightly tricky waypoint to handle,” said Davy Beaudart (Hellowork). “You really have to rack your brain to find the best option,” added Victor Le Pape (Région Bretagne CMB Espoir) this morning.

The competitors must round La Palma to starboard. But choosing the right positioning requires looking ahead at longer-term weather forecasts. The challenge? The models don’t agree, making the sailors’ task all the more complex. Two options are emerging: either pass to the west of La Palma, or between La Palma and Gran Canaria. “It’s interesting — there’s room for strategy and decisions to be made,” noted Yann Chateau. And with that, there will inevitably be winners and losers. !