Transat Paprec 2025 review - The lessons of an unforgettable edition
by Transat Paprec 13 May 10:43 PDT
Transat Paprec 2025 © Vincent Olivaud / OC Sport Pen Duick
A breathtaking finish, unbearable suspense, a favorite who lived up to expectations (Skipper Macif), a Saint Barth native who shone to the end, young talents gaining experience... This Transat Paprec — a race organized by OC Sport Pen Duick — fulfilled all its promises.
Here's a look back at a race that will go down in history.
Incredible suspense
The passage by La Palma already set the tone. After a week of racing, nine boats rounded the island within less than an hour of each other. On the other side of the Atlantic, a large windless zone reshuffled the deck and tightened the gaps. At the finish line, after 18 days of racing, the final ranking was decided in the very last miles. Just 35 seconds separated 3rd place, Cap St Barth (Cindy Brin and Thomas André), from 4th, Selencia-Cerfrance (Maël Garnier and Catherine Hunt).
Likewise, only 55 seconds allowed Hellowork (Davy Beaudart and Julie Simon) to finish 6th ahead of DMG MORI Academy (Laure Galley and Kévin Bloch). The top five finished within just 55 minutes, the top 10 within 2 hours, and the top 14 all crossed the line in under 6 hours! Even the final team, Ellie Driver and Oliver Hill (Women's Engineering Society), arrived only 21 hours after the winners. These numbers show just how high the standard was in this edition!
A favorite who lived up to expectations
"We checked all the boxes," "we prepared to face as many situations as possible"... In both their words and their actions, Charlotte Yven and Hugo Dhallenne (Skipper Macif) never hid their ambition. After a winter spent fine-tuning their teamwork and on-board reflexes, the duo managed every aspect of the race with control. Second at La Palma and in the leading trio throughout the Atlantic crossing, they showed patience and composure in the final 24 hours, choosing a middle-of-the-road position that allowed them to make a decisive break. Charlotte Yven becomes the first woman to win the Transat Paprec twice, while Hugo Dhallenne has now won two of the three transatlantic races he has entered (1st in the 2021 Mini Transat, 6th in the 2023 Transat Paprec).
An outpouring of popular support
It felt as if the entire island had gathered in the middle of the night. At 3:04 a.m. between Thursday and Friday, when Cindy Brin and Thomas André (Cap St Barth) crossed the finish line, nearly 200 spectator boats were out on the water to welcome them. On the docks, the atmosphere was just as electric, with hundreds of fans packed into the race village. The crowd was there to applaud, congratulate, and celebrate the homecoming of Cindy Brin. The first woman from Saint Barthélemy to take part in the race, she did more than just participate: she fought at the front from start to finish and claimed an incredible third place. Deeply grateful to her co-skipper Thomas André, a seasoned racer, she cherished this unforgettable night: "That welcome... it was stratospheric!"
A particularly demanding race
It's hard to grasp just how challenging it is to cross the Atlantic competitively on 9.75-meter boats. One must imagine the rotating watches, the mounting fatigue, the ever-present dampness wearing on nerves, the lack of space, the constant need to be at the helm, to strategize, and never let up... The physical toll was immense, as shown on the skippers' faces at the finish. Cindy Brin was sick for much of the race, Mathilde Géron (Demain) spoke of hallucinations, and Maël Garnier (Selencia-Cerfrance) described a state of extreme fatigue. Audrey Ogereau (Les Étoiles Filantes) didn't hide her feelings: "It's really, really tough—I'm not sure I'd do it again." And then there were all those misty-eyed faces at the finish line, bearing witness to the sheer intensity of this truly extraordinary adventure.
Those who reached a new level
This Transat Paprec was a major steppingstone for Thomas André, who has now proven himself at the highest level. With a solid Mini background, the Breton sailor showed he belongs in the Figaro class, where he hopes to gain further experience. Maël Garnier and Catherine Hunt (Selencia-Cerfrance) showed remarkable resilience in the face of technical issues, as did Lola Billy and Corentin Horeau (Région Bretagne - CMB Océane). Though "Coco" admitted he was "hard on Lola," the young sailor learned a lot and understands what it takes to shine in the demanding Figaro class. Laure Galley, paired with Kévin Bloch (DMG MORI Academy), was a standout in the early stages, as were Alexis Thomas and Pauline Courtois (Wings of the Ocean), who led the fleet for a time.
Rookies rising to the challenge
In less than three weeks, the rookies came into their own. They learned fast, held strong, and fully embraced the race. Whether they were new to the Transat or to the Figaro class, their performances deserve recognition. Special mentions go to Catherine Hunt (4th), Mathilde Géron (5th), and Lola Billy (10th). Even the final finishers reported "having learned so much." That includes Thomas de Dinechin and Aglaé Ribon (Almond Pure Ocean, 12th), Anaëlle Pattusch and Hugo Cardon (Humains en action, 14th), the Scottish pair Maggie Adamson and Calanach Finlayson (Solan Ocean Racing, 15th), and the British team Ellie Driver and Oliver Hill (Women's Engineering Society, 17th). The youngest participants, Pier-Paolo Dean and Tiphaine Rideau (Banques Alimentaires, 16th), can also be proud. For many, this Transat Paprec was not only a crash course — it was a powerful source of motivation to continue their journey in the class.
A word from Yoann Richomme
2nd in the last Vendée Globe and in the 2014 Transat Paprec, and patron of this 17th edition:
"The end of the race was really tough — the gaps narrowed due to tricky weather. Some boats were in the lead just 24 hours from the finish and got overtaken at the last moment. That's a tough and cruel scenario. But the victory of Skipper Macif (Charlotte Yven and Hugo Dhallenne) is well-deserved — their race management was outstanding. And there were surprises too: 2nd place for Romain Bouillard and Irina Gracheva, and 3rd for Cindy Brin and Thomas André. What's great about the Figaro Beneteau class is that there are top-level skippers who constantly raise the bar. It was a magical race!"