Please select your home edition
Edition
Allen Brothers

Transat Paprec, Day 18 - Transat Paprec title going down to the wire

by Transat Paprec 17 May 09:55 PDT 17 May 2023

The 1994, second edition of the two-handed race across the Atlantic which is now the Transat Paprec was famously won by French sailing legends Jean Le Cam and Roland Jourdain by just 63 seconds. After 20 days and 20 hours of racing between Lorient and Saint Barthélemy, Le Cam and Jourdain pipped Bertrand de Broc and Marc Guillemot by the tiniest of margins.

This Transat Paprec, the first to be raced in 'mixed doubles' format, looks set to deliver a truly nail biting finale which, if it does not see as close a finish between first and second as 1994, this edition, the second edition ever to be raced in Figaro BENETEAU 3 one designs is shaping up to have the closest finish yet between the top five.

With less than 350 miles to go of the 3890 mile course, there is still nothing between the top three. And after 17 and a half days of racing, the top trio are still mostly within visual sight of each other in the same way they might be during a training day race in Brittany.

Most observers who know the race, the title rivals and have an understanding of the weather forecast for the final 48 hours consider victory will be won or lost on the final approach and circuit of the island of Saint Barths.

Since this Wednesday morning Corentin Horeau and Pauline Courtois (Mutuelle Bleue) have been credited with a steady lead, but one which has never been as much as one mile ahead of Lois Berrëhar and Charlotte Yven (Skipper MACIF) in second. And just half a mile behind them- in terms of distance to the finish - are Gaston Morvan and Anne-Claire Le Berre (Region Bretagne-CMB Performance). In truth the top three are racing side by side at virtually the same speeds.

But, fastest this Wednesday evening has been Le Havre native and former 470 Olympic campaigner Guillaume Pirouelle racing with Sophie Faguet and carrying the flag for the Normandy area on Région Normandie. They are less than 10 miles from the pacemakers and seem to be doing well with a position to the south, to windward of the peloton.

From Région Bretagne-CMB Performance Gaston Morvan reported earlier today, " It's pretty intense right now. We are between the squall systems, little storms, it's hard to keep the boat moving forward. And on top of that there is weed, sargassum.. We are trying to give it everything we can. We know that it's going to come down to small details, that it's going to be very tight between three boats, even more. And they will come back at us from behind too. "

Coach at Pôle Finistère Course au Large offshore training centre Erwan Tabarly sums up, "It's a real speed race. You also have to negotiate squalls and clouds well and keep trimming your boat properly. Two days before the finish no one really has any kind of lead. The mindset comes into it too. Wanting too much to control or watch too closely what others are doing, you can forget to just take the best route. You have to stay true to your plan, go your own way without giving in to the others. Even if they don't stay stuck in light winds around the island, the boats are very close and you can be overtaken during the passage round of the island, it has happened before. You can stay stuck for a few minutes by going around the tip at Colombier. It never lasts long but it can be enough to get passed by a boat. Victory can be won there. It's less tricky then, going down to the line."

Top five at 1700hrs BST Wednesday 17 May 2023

1 Mutuellle Bleue (Corentin Horeau/Pauline Courtois) 353.2 nautical miles to finish
2 Skipper MACIF (Loïs Berrehar/Charlotte Yven) + 0.9 miles
3 Région Bretagne CMB Performance (Gaston Morvan/Anne Claire le Berre) +1.4 miles
4 Région Normandie (Guillaume Pirouelle/Sophie Faguet) + 10.2 miles
5 Cap Ingélec (Camille Bertel/Pierre Leboucher) + 12.9 miles

For more information, visit www.transatpaprec.com.

Related Articles

Spain SailGP Team partners with Zhik for Season 4
Over half the SailGP fleet have now choosen Zhik's innovative performance apparel As SailGP's event 5 rolls into Cadiz, Zhik are excited to announce a new partnership with the Spain SailGP Team as the Official Technical Clothing Supplier for Season 4. Posted today at 11:14 am
Survey into Gender Design in sailing launched
Gender inclusive design in sport reinforces fairness, inclusivity, and safety for all participants The Gender Design Survey aims to gather baseline data to start the discussion whether the design of sailing equipment is impacting the development of greater gender diversity. Posted today at 8:00 am
Martin and Lowry win 5O5 World Championship
Five days of close competition on San Francisco Bay Sixty teams from eight countries competed in the action-packed 10-race 2023 5O5 World Championship held September 26 to October 1 at St. Francis Yacht Club on San Francisco Bay. Posted today at 5:41 am
Australian 18 Footers League's 89th season begins
2023-24 Spring 18ft Skiff Championship opening race this Sunday The Australian 18 Footers League will commence its 89th consecutive season of 18 footers racing on Sydney Harbour next Sunday (October 8) when up to 19 teams will contest Race 1 of the six-race Spring Championship over one of the 3-buoys club courses Posted today at 5:35 am
Bermuda Gold Cup Day 1
Experience rules the day Day 1 of the 71st Bermuda Gold Cup is in the books with veterans Eric Monnin and his Capvis Swiss Match Racing Team and Johnnie Berntsson's eponymous crew from Sweden leading their respective groups. Posted today at 5:26 am
Cup Spy Oct 3: Vital light air testing
Two teams, Emirates Team New Zealand and Alinghi Red Bull Racing sailed their AC75s off Barcelona Two teams, Emirates Team New Zealand and Alinghi Red Bull Racing sailed their AC75s off Barcelona in light airs. The Brits sailed their AC40 in One-Design mode. Winds were just above the minimum for racing. Posted today at 4:21 am
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez Day 3
In full swing with all the different craft, Maxi, Modern and Classic yachts competing Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez 2023 is in full swing with all the different craft, Maxi, Modern and Classic yachts, entering the star-studded arena of Saint Tropez today amidst some truly enchanting conditions! Posted on 3 Oct
2023 J/88 North American Championship
The weather was the story over the first days The weather was the story over the first days of the four-day J/88 North American Championship hosted by Larchmont Yacht Club September 28-October 1. Posted on 3 Oct
RS21 Worlds 2023 at Porto Rotondo, Sardinia overal
Tight racing and double victories prevailed It was a double victory for team 'Caipirinha' at the RS21 World Championships in the crystal-clear waters of Sardinia this weekend. The crew not only took the title of 2023 World Champions, but they also claimed first place in the RS21 Yamamay Cup. Posted on 3 Oct
Rocky Sanchez on the 2023 Rhodes 19 National Champ
An interview with Rocky Sanchez on the 2023 Rhodes 19 National Championship Sail-World checked in with Rocky Sanchez, regatta chair of the 2023 Rhodes 19 National Championship, to learn more about this championship-level One Design regatta. Posted on 3 Oct
Marine Resources 2022 - FOOTERLloyd Stevenson - Artnautica60 728x90px BOTTOMVaikobi 2023 Gloves - FOOTER