The 17th edition of the Transat Paprec will set sail from Concarneau on 20 April 2025
OC Sport Pen Duick, at the helm of the Transat Paprec, has today published the notice of race detailing the rules for participating in the 17th edition of the historic event, which will once again set sail from Concarneau (Finistère) on 20 April 2025 at 13:02. Transat Paprec 2025 registrations open for the only transatlantic race in mixed doubles and on equal terms, which will reach Saint-Barthélemy (French Antilles) via a waypoint in La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain).
To remember in this press release:
The notice of race for the 17th edition of the Transat Paprec has been published
The start will be given from Concarneau on April 20, 2025
The concept of the mixed double, inaugurated in 2023, will be renewed in 2025
Registrations are open, with an ‘early birds’ rate until September 23
Since its creation in 1992, the Transat Paprec (formerly Transat en double Concarneau – Saint-Barthélemy, formerly Transat AG2R La Mondiale), which has seen the emergence of many ocean racing legends and trained several generations of sailors, has not aged a day. If the race still attracts so many French and foreign Figaro sailors, it is because in addition to the purely sporting aspect, its purpose is to allow young sailors from all backgrounds to learn their trade on a physically and mentally demanding course. Armel Le Cléac’h, double winner of the race (2004, 2010), would not disagree: “In 2004, it was my first transatlantic. It was a great experience because there was victory at the end, but especially because we did it double-handed. It allowed me not to go too fast in my development on the circuit. I found it great to do it in Figaro because we were on equal terms. There was a real fight for three weeks. It helped me a lot. As always, when it’s the first time, you make up a lot of stories, whether it’s for a transatlantic, a round the world or a Solitaire du Figaro Paprec. Once you’ve done it, you don’t see things the same way anymore.” The skipper of the Maxi Banque Populaire XI was thus able to capitalise on the experience gained in double-handed racing to learn the ropes on a one-design boat, before achieving the success that we know him for. An opinion shared by Camille Bertel (Cap Ingélec), who raced the Transat Paprec 2023. “The double-handed race helped me a lot in my first year of Figaro. The Transat Paprec allowed me to learn and train with a co-skipper who was much more experienced than me: Pierre Leboucher. I made this choice based on his skills and what he could bring me in terms of experience. I really want to take part in the 2025 edition,” says the young woman, who will be taking part in La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec for the first time this year.
Promoting access to offshore racing for women sailors
The race, which appeals beyond borders, also has the mission of promoting access to offshore racing for women since it became mixed last year under the impetus of OC Sport Pen Duick and the Paprec group, its Title Partner. "I did my first offshore race last year, in the Transat Paprec. I had been sailing for ten years on Maxi Yachts and I really wanted to get into the industry. I met Edouard Golbery in 2022. He played the role of mentor, both in terms of finding sponsors and training, until this incredible Atlantic crossing in a race. Doing this race with him gave me the confidence to build my own Mini project. “I am now preparing for the next edition of the Mini Transat, which will take place in 2025,” says Alicia de Pfyffer, a Swiss sailor who took part in the 2023 edition of the Transat Paprec with Edouard Golbery (Race for Science – Verder).
An unchanged course
The course of the Transat Paprec, committed while remaining accessible to new Figaro sailors, will remain unchanged for its 17th edition. On the menu for the mixed duos: 3,890 nautical miles between Concarneau and Saint-Barthélemy, with a single course mark (29°00’00 N & 017°52’00 W) at La Palma to leave to starboard. A waypoint that will force the sailors to head a little south in order to encourage the participation of novice or inexperienced crews, the route being less committed than a more northerly route. “The course is open, with a single waypoint that will force the competitors to make a strategic choice: go around it to take a more northerly route and stay close to the orthodromic route (the direct route), or head very south along the coast of Africa before turning right in the hope of hitting a stronger trade wind,” explains Francis Le Goff, Race Director of the Transat Paprec.
Thus, the City of Concarneau, Queen of Cornouaille, will once again host the start of the race, as has been the case every two years since 2006. Resolutely turned towards the open sea and accustomed to major sailing events, the Blue City, which lives to the rhythm of the tides, has seen many sailors cut their teeth in its magnificent bay, between the ramparts of the walled city and the Glénan archipelago. "It is with great impatience that we await the Transat Paprec 2025! Concarneau is proud to support OC Sport Pen Duick in the construction of this offshore race anchored in the Concarneau maritime landscape since 2006.
This event launches the tourist season every two years and brings a scent of adventure to the City. Sheltered by the century-old ramparts, while onlookers visit the village and enjoy the entertainment on offer, the Figaro crews finalize their last adjustments to be ready to do battle. The departure from Concarneau Bay is always a very strong moment for sailing enthusiasts and lovers of great shows,” says Marc Bigot, Mayor of Concarneau.
And as has been the tradition since the first edition of the race, the community of Saint-Barthélemy, the jewel of the French Antilles, will celebrate the sailors in a warm and festive atmosphere specific to Saint-Barths. An opportunity for everyone to discover or rediscover this little corner of paradise bathed in crystal clear waters, whose fauna and flora are matched only by its postcard-perfect white sand beaches. "Over the years, Saint-Barthélemy has always been proud to host a unique race, which has always known how to reinvent itself while being a true talent revealer. In 2023, the Transat Paprec has succeeded in becoming the first 100% mixed double-handed transatlantic race. Next year, Saint-Barthélemy will once again be ready to properly welcome these sailors for whom the seafarers who are the inhabitants of the island have the greatest respect," says Xavier Lédée, President of the Territorial Council - Saint-Barthélemy. Once the finish line is crossed, the skippers will moor in the port of Gustavia where the race arrival village will be located.
Registrations are open!
The publication of the notice of race marks the opening of registrations for the 17th edition of the Transat Paprec. An ‘early birds’ rate is offered to competitors registering before September 23, 2024. The deadline for registration requests to benefit from preferential pricing conditions is December 31, 2024.
They said:
Sébastien Petithuguenin, General Director of Paprec Group :
« The Transat Paprec perfectly embodies the values that Paprec holds dear: surpassing oneself, equal opportunities and respect for the environment.
Paprec's arrival as Title Partner for the 2023 edition has enabled the format of this race to evolve, making it the first double-handed transatlantic race for both men and women. Our aim is to give more women access to the highest level of ocean racing. Our commitment to sailing is more than just a sponsorship; it's a way of contributing to a sustainable and equitable ecosystem, while reinforcing our own DNA as competitors.
The first Transat Paprec saw some exceptional performances and a remarkable fighting spirit from the participants. I'm very proud to see that four of the first six finishers in this edition had already sailed under the Paprec colours. This confirms the important role played by our company in the field of excellence that is sailing.
I encourage the sailors to embark on this unique adventure, to take up the challenge of crossing the Atlantic in a double-handed event, and to demonstrate once again the high standard of this competition. Join the ranks of an experience that combines high-level competition with essential human values.»
Julie Coutts, General Director of OC Sport Pen Duick :
« The publication of the Notice of Race marks the start of the 17th edition of the Transat Paprec. Since its inception, this transatlantic race has become a firm fixture in French and international ocean racing, enabling several generations of sailors to cut their teeth in double-handed racing on a one-design boat. In 2025, we will be renewing the gender diversity initiative introduced in 2023, in response to the social and sporting challenges of today and tomorrow. We are convinced that the sporting line-up will reflect the dynamism of the Figaro BENETEAU Class and of ocean racing, and will enable many women, as well as young French and foreign skippers, to take part in this statutory race on the circuit. »
Jean-Bernard Le Boucher, President of the Figaro BENETEAU Class :
« In April 2025, the Figaro Beneteau Class, together with OC Sport Pen Duick, Paprec and the Fédération Française de Voile, will be celebrating the 17th edition of the Transat Paprec. The only double-handed transatlantic race on the circuit, which became 100% mixed in 2023 under the impetus of its title partner, it offers talented sailors a course of 3,890 nautical miles between Concarneau and Saint-Barthélemy. In 2023, 11 Figaro Beneteau 3s will be lining up at the start. The Figaro Beneteau Class is at the disposal of crews and training centres to encourage as many boats as possible to take part in this magnificent event, which is part of the French Elite Ocean Racing Championship. Which sailors will succeed Loïs Berrehar and Charlotte Yven, the title holders aboard the Figaro Beneteau 3 Skipper Macif? Join us on 20 April 2025 to follow this great adventure! »
