Please select your home edition
Edition
Ovington 2021 - ILCA 1 - LEADERBOARD

Transat Paprec Day 6 - A High-Tension Weekend

by Transat Paprec 25 Apr 20:27 BST 25 April 2025

At sea for six days, the competitors have already completed a quarter of the Transat Paprec course. After crossing the Bay of Biscay, rounding Cape Finisterre, and sailing down the Portuguese coast, the fleet has now stretched out toward the latitude of North Africa.

They're closing in on Madeira and already pondering the best strategy to approach La Palma, a waypoint on the route to Saint Barthélemy, which they are expected to pass on Saturday evening. The forecast promises lively conditions, pushing the duos to remain extremely vigilant. Here's a breakdown of the weekend's key challenges.

  • Martin Le Pape and Mathilde Géron (DEMAIN) are still leading as of the 7:00 p.m. ranking, ahead of Davy Beaudart and Julie Simon (Hellowork) and Alexis Thomas and Pauline Courtois (Wings of the Ocean).
  • The fleet is nearing Madeira, which they will round to the east in the evening to avoid the wind shadow on the island's western side.
  • The regatta is about to intensify as the fleet prepares to negotiate the La Palma waypoint on Saturday evening.
  • As of 7:00 p.m., the top 15 boats are within just 50 nautical miles of each other (about 80 km).

This weekend is no time for relaxation. On the Transat Paprec, taking a break or "switching off" is a luxury reserved for land-dwellers.

"We try to sleep between shifts, but it's hard," said Alexis Thomas (Wings of the Ocean) last night. "The others aren't letting up, so there's always work to be done."

And the pace is only expected to pick up throughout the weekend—not just because the boats are charging full speed southward.

Madeira in Sight

All day long, skippers have been working to get closer to the islands of Porto Santo and Madeira. While the route looks straightforward on the race tracker, the reality is more complex. Approaching a high-pressure ridge has caused unstable wind conditions. As a result, some boats are sailing 2 to 3 knots faster than their neighbors. DMG MORI Academy (Laure Galley and Kevin Bloch) and Les Étoiles Filantes (Quentin Vlamynck and Audrey Ogereau) made small course corrections.

The current objective is to round Porto Santo and Madeira from the east, avoiding the significant wind shadow to the west.

"We're staying on edge," said race leader Martin Le Pape (Demain). "Everyone's pushing to catch a right-hand wind shift and more pressure along Madeira," explained Arno Biston (Article1).

"The gybing game has begun at a moderate pace, but it's expected to ramp up this evening and into the night," added Yann Chateau from race management.

"You've Got to Rack Your Brains!"

After Madeira, it's straight on to La Palma, with just as much intensity. The weather promises to be brisk but manageable: 20 to 25 knots of wind with little swell. Still, focus will be crucial.

"It's a bit of a tricky waypoint to handle," admitted Davy Beaudart.

"You have to really think through the best strategy," added Victor Le Pape (Région Bretagne - CMB Espoir) this morning.

Competitors must pass La Palma to starboard. But to find the right positioning, they need to look at longer-term forecasts. And that's where it gets complicated—forecast models disagree, making decision-making harder for the skippers.

Two main options are emerging: Either pass west of La Palma, or sail between La Palma and Gran Canaria.

"It's interesting — there's room to play and real decisions to make," said Yann Chateau. And as always, there will be winners and losers!

To follow the skippers in real time: transatpaprec.geovoile.com/2025/viewer

Event website: www.transatpaprec.com

Related Articles

Transat Paprec Day 11
The Battle of the Leaders Now past the halfway point and sailing through the heart of the Atlantic, the competitors in the Transat Paprec are still locked in an intense battle. A windless zone expected later this week is drawing everyone's attention and forcing tough decisions. Posted on 30 Apr
Transat Paprec Day 10
Alexis Thomas / Pauline Courtois (Wings of the Ocean): “It's the fulfillment of a childhood dream” Between two replies, Alexis Thomas, contacted this morning, apologises for "having completely lost track of the day and time." Posted on 29 Apr
Transat Paprec Day 9
The Westward Conquest As the second week of competition begins on the Transat Paprec, a new race has started. After passing the La Palma waypoint during the night from Saturday to Sunday, the duos are now making rapid progress towards the Caribbean. Posted on 28 Apr
Transat Paprec Day 7
Michel Desjoyeaux: "Ordinary people wouldn't agree to live through this" THE INTERVIEW. He will forever be the first. Alongside Jacques Caraës, Michel Desjoyeaux won the inaugural edition of the Transat Paprec. That was in 1992—he wasn't yet known as "the Professor," but already had all the talent. Posted on 26 Apr
Transat Paprec Day 5
Galley & Bloch: "We couldn't have dreamed of much better!" Laure Galley - Kévin Bloch (DMG MORI Academy): "We couldn't have dreamed of much better!" Posted on 24 Apr
Transat Paprec Day 4
Elastic? Not so automatic! For the first time since the start of the race, gaps are beginning to form. Off the Portuguese coast, part of the fleet—led by DMG MORI Academy and Maël Garnier - Catherine Hunt —has found a stronger wind corridor and is breaking away at the front. Posted on 23 Apr
Transat Paprec Day 3
Pier-Paolo Dean & Tiphaine Rideau: "We're having an incredible time!" They are the youngest duo in the Transat Paprec fleet. At just 19 and 20 years old, Tiphaine Rideau and Pier-Paolo Dean (Banques Alimentaires) have embarked on their first transatlantic crossing. Posted on 22 Apr
Transat Paprec Day 2
Cap St Barth, the thrill of chasing a dream! Cindy Brin and Thomas André created quite the surprise by positioning themselves among the front runners during yesterday's coastal course, holding pace throughout the evening and into Monday. Posted on 21 Apr
A Flying Start to the Transat Paprec
19 mixed duos underway at precisely 13:02 this Sunday, 20 April At precisely 13:02 this Sunday, 20 April, the 19 mixed duos taking part in the Transat Paprec set sail from Concarneau. Posted on 20 Apr
Final day before the Transat Paprec start
The countdown is almost over The countdown is almost over. Tomorrow, Sunday, April 20, at precisely 13:02, the 19 duos competing in the Transat Paprec will cast off for a high-intensity Atlantic crossing. Posted on 19 Apr