Charlotte Yven and Hugo Dhallenne (Skipper Macif), incredible winners of the Transat Paprec!

Antoine Grenapin
May 9
3 min read

They were among the big favorites for this edition. Two years after her victory with Loïs Berrehar, Charlotte Yven decided to set sail again with Hugo Dhallenne, one of the most successful skippers in the class. Skipper Macif set the pace throughout the race before making the difference in the final hours. By winning for the second time, Charlotte Yven is the first skipper to win the Transat Paprec twice, something only Armel Le Cléac'h had previously achieved.

THEIR RACE IN FIGURES

Arrival time: Friday, May 8 at 2:18:54 a.m. (local time), 8:18:54 a.m. (metropolitan time) Race time: 18d 19h 16min 54s Distance covered: 3,864.22 nm Average speed (on the great circle): 8.56 knots Average speed (actual): 9.46 knots The extra figure: 66 times at the top of the ranking since the start of the race

THEIR RACE DECRYPTED. In Macif gold!

Flying the Skipper Macif flag is a sure way to aim high. The industry has already built a reputation for itself, and the sponsor supported the last Vendée Globe winner, Charlie Dalin. In the Figaro, a Skipper Macif boat already won the race two years ago. Charlotte Yven became the second female winner in the history of the race—only Karine Fauconnier had ever had her name on the list of winners (in 2000)—after winning with Lois Berrehar. Charlotte is back, this time with Hugo Dhallenne, winner of the 2021 Mini Transat and an outstanding skipper.

At the end of a “sacred match race”

Winter is a busy time, with training, weather briefings, and sharing accommodations to perfect the duo's skills. " We've ticked as many boxes as possible ," they admit before setting off. At the start in Concarneau, Charlotte and Hugo give the impression of wanting to cut interviews short. No more words, time for action. From the start, Skipper Macif is at the forefront. They head slightly west at Cape Finisterre and pass the waypoint of La Palma, 7 minutes behind the leaders at the time (Martin Le Pape and Mathilde Géron). During the long Atlantic crossing, they set the pace, then break away with Wings of the Ocean (Alexis Thomas and Pauline Courtois) and Cap Saint Barth (Cindy Brin and Thomas André). " It's a hell of a match race, it's intense and it never stops ," Hugo confides. Despite the reduced effort, the duo is united, supportive, and in league. " We know it's also a matter of mind ," the skipper continues. In the final stretch, they were among those favoring a longer but faster northern route. And they held firm until the scenario finally favored them. Yesterday afternoon, while most of their rivals were stuck, they took advantage of an " exceptional angle that allowed them to widen the gap ," explains Francis Le Goff. The race was decided there, after 18 days of unsustainable sprinting. Charlotte and Hugo kept their heads, continued to believe in themselves in all circumstances, and were thus rewarded. They can finally enjoy their triumphant arrival in Gustavia.

Charlotte Yven, forever the first

It's not just the completely crazy scenario at the end of the race that will long be etched in history. There's Charlotte Yven's consistency at the highest level. Already victorious two years ago with Loïs Berrehar, the Morlaix native has won again. She is the only woman to have her name on the winner's list, along with Karine Fauconnier, who raised their arms in 2000 with Lionel Lemonchois.

Twenty-five years later, Charlotte becomes the first sailor to win twice. Only one sailor had ever achieved such a feat: Armel Le Cléac'h (2004 and 2010). Interviewed a few days ago, the current Ultime skipper also mentioned this prospect: “I would love it if Charlotte joined me on the list of double winners, especially since she, like me, is from the Bay of Morlaix!”