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Will the Breton skies be kind to the start of the Transat Paprec? As the start approaches, skippers and the general public are gathering at the race village in Concarneau. From Tuesday April 15 until the start of the race on Sunday April 20, various events and concerts are scheduled to keep sailing aficionados waiting. But at the beginning of the week, an uninvited guest crashed the party: bad weather. On Tuesday April 15, the traditional Alex Picot challenge was due to take place in Concarneau Bay, allowing sailors to make their final adjustments. It's also an opportunity for observers to get a first impression of the race. As proof: the winners of the prologue in the last edition were also the winners of the Transat Paprec. However, the skippers will have to be patient before taking to the water, as the offshore prologue has been cancelled due to unfavorable weather conditions. There's a north, north-westerly wind with 25 knots established and gusts that can exceed 40 knots," said Francis Le Goff, the race director. There's no point tempting the devil with six days to go before the start. But the sportsmen and women weren't twiddling their thumbs. The organizers arranged with the Virtual Regatta game to create a virtual prologue. From 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., each sailor competed in a 30-minute virtual race on a tablet, in a rather good-natured atmosphere. We had a lot of fun," says Cindy. It was 45 knots out anyway, and it would have been stupid to break the boat a few days before the start. "Winner of the second race, the Cap Saint-Barth crew climbed to second place overall, just behind Jules Ducelier and Sophie Faguet (Région Normandie). After the relaxation, it's time for the final adjustments: safety checks, filling the water tanks and configuring the sails installed on the Cap Saint-Barth boat just two days ago.
The usual route
Weather permitting, the 19 mixed-gender Transat Paprec crews will embark on a slightly more physically demanding adventure this Sunday, April 20. For this 17th edition, the course is unchanged: the skippers will have to cover the 3,890 miles that separate the Breton town of Concarneau from Saint-Barthélemy. The 19 Figaro Bénéteau 3s will then take to the open sea, heading for the Bay of Biscay. A leg that "always holds its share of surprises", warns Francis Le Goff. The skippers will continue southwards, with an obligatory passage around the waypoint of La Palma. This Spanish island represents a key moment in the race, as the crews decide whether to opt for a direct route to Saint-Barth, or a steeper descent along the African coast.
Experienced skippers
Among the 38 participants, eight are familiar with the Concarneau - Saint-Barth route. The record goes to Martin Le Pape, who has taken part in the Transat four times. The other contenders are not to be outdone, as they have all achieved good positions in the rankings, including Sophie Faguet (4th in 2023), Pauline Courtois and Quentin Horeau (3rdme in 2023), Chloé Le Bars (6th in 2023) and, of course, Charlotte Yven, winner of the previous edition in 18 days 19 hours 1 minute and 33 seconds. The event record set in 2021 by Nils Palmieri and Julien Villion in 18 days 5 hours 8 minutes and 3 seconds has yet to be beaten. It's a challenge that the most experienced sailors may well set themselves. Romain Brouillard, Thomas De Dinechin, Davy Beaudart, Julie Simon and Laure Galley all know the Figaro Bénéteau 3 well, having already competed in the Solitaire du Figaro.
Quentin Vlamynck has crossed the Atlantic several times, and even scored a double-handed victory in the Transat Jacques Vabre 2023 in an Ocean Fifty. No intimidation for the youngsters, who are taking advantage of this race on equal terms to make their mark on the Figaro circuit (JSB 1611). The Transat Paprec will be the first Atlantic crossing for several of them. This is particularly true of Cindy Brin, the island's only representative in this emblematic race.
First woman from the island on the starting line
Since announcing her participation last October in the Journal de Saint-Barth, the Saint-Barth Yacht Club sailing instructor has been training relentlessly for this challenge. While the island native is no stranger to sailing, she had never sailed a Figaro Bénéteau 3 before her first training session last autumn in Brittany. Well supported by skipper Éric Péron, who is coordinating the project, and teammate Thomas André, Cindy got to grips with the boat in record time. "She has nothing to be ashamed of, she's made great progress," said the Breton skipper a month before the start. Cindy can also count on the unfailing support of her island. In fact, it is thanks to the support of the Collectivité, which is financing this project, that the instructor is able to realize her childhood dream and become the first woman from Saint-Barth to take part in this transatlantic race.
A major project for the Collectivité
To honor the local girl, the Collectivité has gone all out. The decorations on the Cap Saint-Barth boat bear the territory's effigy, with the Arawak and the pelican, and a partnership with Virtual Regatta has enabled the boat to be integrated into the virtual game (JSB 1611). A delegation will be present in Concarneau to represent the island and encourage Cindy: the President of the Collectivité, Xavier Lédée, the Port Director, Ernest Brin, David Blanchard (territorial councillor in charge of sports), Magali Maxor (head of the associations and sports department associations and sport), Shirley Brin Dufay for the Comité du Tourisme and several representatives of the Chambre économique multiprofessionnelle. St. Barths wishing to join in the excitement will be able to take advantage of the arrival village, which will be open from May 6, with the first crews expected to arrive on May 8.
