Transat Paprec Day 2 - Cap St Barth, the thrill of chasing a dream!
by Transat Paprec 21 Apr 18:46 BST
21 April 2025
Transat Paprec Day 2 © Vincent Olivaud / OC Sport Pen Duick
They created quite the surprise by positioning themselves among the front runners during yesterday's coastal course, holding pace throughout the evening and into Monday.
And yet, Cindy Brin and Thomas André had never taken part in the Transat Paprec before. A sailing instructor and the first native of Saint-Barthélemy to compete in the race, Cindy repeats time and again that this is "the dream of a lifetime." As for Thomas, proud of his Breton roots, he honed his skills in the Mini class and is now in his second year on the Figaro circuit—clearly, with talent. Here's the story of the remarkable journey of Cap St Barth, whose arrival is eagerly awaited in the jewel of the Caribbean.
What to remember from the last 24 hours
- The duo Cindy Brin - Thomas André (Cap St Barth) came out on top in the coastal course following the official start
- Spectators turned out in force on Sunday at Quai Carnot, along the coast and out on the water to cheer on the skippers
- After their first night at sea, the fleet remains tightly packed, with only 14 nautical miles separating the boats and 11 miles laterally
- As of the 3 PM ranking, Hugo Dhallenne and Charlotte Yven (Skipper Macif), slightly to the west, were leading ahead of Martin Le Pape and Mathilde Géron (Demain)
- The frontrunners are expected to reach Cape Finisterre tomorrow evening
In recent days at the Transat Paprec village—an event organized by OC Sport Pen Duick—Cindy Brin could often be seen behind oversized sunglasses, hiding a tired face and the dark circles under her eyes. She quietly admitted that the final week had been "a bit tough." The Saint-Barthélemy native mentioned the fickle weather in Concarneau and the cold, but it was clear there was more to it. She had to leave her two children for nearly three weeks and, above all, face an immense challenge. Because for Cindy, the Transat Paprec isn't just another race. "Being here is the dream of a lifetime, a 20-year-long project," she said again yesterday.
"With Thomas, there was a great vibe right from the start"
It's a beautiful story: Cindy was born and raised in Saint-Barthélemy. From a young age, she was captivated by the finishes of the Transat Paprec—those sailors arriving from mainland France, their faces weathered by effort and sea spray, the celebrations held in their honor, and the dreams they brought with them. Now a sailing instructor herself, it was her students who pushed her to take the leap. "I always tell my kids to give their best and follow their dreams," she explained a month ago. "When I told them about this transatlantic race, they said 'go for it, Cindy, you have to do it!'"
But jumping in unprepared was never an option. Cindy chose to spend the winter in mainland France, far from the warmth of Saint-Barth. She tested the boat last October and sailed with several skippers to find the right co-skipper. She says that with Thomas André, "there was a great vibe right from the start."
Thomas made a name for himself by sailing under the colors of the Diwan schools (which teach in Breton) during his Mini class years. On the race course, he's a regular contender—5th in the Mini-Transat in 2023 and off to a strong start in the Figaro class (6th at the Trophée Laura Vergne in 2024). He loves the dynamic he shares with Cindy, calling it "a bridge between two territories," Brittany and Saint-Barthélemy—perfectly capturing the spirit of the Transat Paprec.
"They're both learning incredibly fast"
At the start line, emotions were running high. Cindy's mother was in tears. Her children, her partner, and close friends were all there. Thomas had his girlfriend, family, and friends present too. "The start was really intense and emotional," Thomas shared this morning. But once emotions were set aside, the two dove into the race with full energy and enthusiasm.
Their joy of sailing together was clear from the very first moment. During the coastal course, they held their own against the top contenders—even briefly taking the lead in the Concarneau channel. "Racing at the front with the big names was a wonderful gift to our loved ones—and already a cherished memory," Thomas said with a smile.
As the fleet speeds through the Bay of Biscay, the duo is still hanging in there and spent Sunday evening in 3rd place. After the first night, they were in 6th, neck-and-neck with Jules Ducelier and Sophie Faguet (Région Normandie), one of the favorites. It hasn't been easy though—Thomas admitted that they were both seasick during the night. "We gritted our teeth as best we could, but we're feeling better now," he reassured.
In any case, "their start is absolutely amazing," enthused Race Director Francis Le Goff. "They have a lot going for them—she's a sailing instructor, he's been progressing steadily in the Figaro class, and both of them are quick learners."
Their spectacular start bodes well—not just for their race, but for the momentum it brings to sailing in Saint-Barthélemy. Cindy is paving the way for her young students, inspiring them by example. Among them is 10-year-old Stanley Haes, who recently took 3rd place at the International Spring Cup in Martigues in the Optimist class. After his win, Stanley and his family came to Concarneau to cheer on Cindy—just a taste of the welcome she'll receive when she reaches Saint-Barthélemy. "It's going to be amazing," she said just before the start. "I think I have an idea of what to expect, but I don't know how big the welcome will really be."
With a cheeky grin, Thomas added: "There are a lot of skippers who want to finish ahead of us just to enjoy the party with us—but we want to get there before them!"
Quotes:
Martin Le Pape (Demain): "All is well aboard Demain. We had a wet night with 30 knots of wind, but nothing out of the ordinary. Speed-wise, we're doing okay: we're slightly to the east compared to the rest of the fleet, particularly Skipper Macif and Région Normandie. We'll see what happens in the next few days as we approach the calm near Cape Finisterre."
Davy Beaudart (Hellowork): "After a lively start in the bay of Concarneau, we began with a reaching leg under gennaker. It was pretty full-on and heeled over, with gusts up to 30 knots—very wet going into the waves. The boat was heeled hard, almost underwater. Then things started easing up as we approached the front. We continued upwind in about 10 knots until the front passed over us with a lot of rain for about two hours. Once it passed, late at night, the wind shifted to the northwest and we hoisted the gennaker again. It got wet and intense again—but now it's easing off. And we've even seen a bit of sunshine!"
Watch the grand start of the Transat Paprec in video: