Maggie Adamson – Calanach Finlayson: “The Transat Paprec is the perfect race!”
- Antoine Grenapin
- Apr 14
- 2 min read
WORDS OF DUOS. Maggie and Calanach have a story that speaks volumes about the power of ocean racing and its evolution. The two Scotsmen had the idea to join forces when the idea of an Olympic mixed ocean racing event was being discussed a few years ago. They continued to sail together and last season won the World Offshore Racing Championship held in Lorient. Complicit and complementary, the Solan Ocean Racing duo will give their all to aim for the top half of the table. This is an opportunity to get to know them better, like Maggie, who, in addition to being a skipper, is an experienced violinist. Calanach agreed to be interviewed.
You were among the last to register for this race... How did it go?
Calanach: We've been wanting to participate for two years, ever since the last edition. It was a real challenge to find the funding to participate. When we won the world championship last year in Lorient, we thought we might now have our chance to launch our campaign, find funding, and participate in the Transat Paprec. Over the past few months, we've been working step by step, and a month before, we received positive feedback from sponsors that allowed us to secure our participation.
Where does your motivation to participate in the race come from?
I really like the idea of crossing the Atlantic. It's a truly fantastic challenge. Sailing along the Portuguese coast and then turning west is really fun. It's also perfect that it's a mixed double. Maggie and I have been sailing together a lot for the past two or three years. And the Figaro is a fantastic boat, and we all have the same boat! It has everything you need to make it the perfect race!
"The level between the Figaros in this race is a step above."
You have known each other for a long time...
Our story began at the end of Covid, when the possibility of mixed doubles being at the Olympic Games was being discussed. There was a scouting program in the UK to form pairs. Maggie was involved. I was in Germany, watching it from afar, and I really wanted to go. So I quickly returned to England. We started by sailing against each other in small races. In 2022, we were teamed together for the first time in a Figaro race in Italy. We finished third, and from there, we started to launch our project.
What will be the goal for you?
The level of competition among the Figaros in this race is a step above. Most of the skippers train all the time, and the field is very strong. But we've both already crossed the Atlantic. Obviously, the first goal will be to finish. And if we can finish in the top half of the fleet, that would be fantastic!
