Transat Paprec 2027 Registrations Open
by Thomas Howson 1 Jul 14:38 BST
18 April 2027
Transat Paprec competitors © Vincent Olivaud
OC Sport Pen Duick, organiser of the Transat Paprec, today published the Notice of Race setting out the rules and conditions for entry to the 18th edition of this iconic event. Once again, the race will start from Concarneau (Brittany, France) on the 18th April 2027 at 13:02 CEST.
Entries are now officially open for the world's only mixed-gender double-handed one-design transatlantic race. The fleet will race to Saint Barthélemy (French West Indies), via a mandatory waypoint off La Palma in the Canary Islands (Spain).
Since its creation in 1992, the Transat Paprec (formerly the Transat en Double Concarneau-Saint-Barthélemy and the Transat AG2R La Mondiale) has continually evolved.
The introduction of the mixed-gender double-handed format in 2023 marked a major turning point in the race's history, and the 2025 edition confirmed this momentum. The level of competition reached new heights, further cementing the Transat Paprec's status as one of the leading events in offshore racing.
An Increasingly Competitive Fleet
The figures speak for themselves: 19 mixed-gender crews lined up for the 2025 Transat Paprec, compared with 11 in the inaugural edition of the format in 2023. This growth reflects the increasing enthusiasm among sailors, and particularly female sailors, for this demanding transatlantic race, while confirming the vision behind the decision made by OC Sport Pen Duick and Title Partner Paprec in 2023.
Edition after edition, the Transat Paprec has established itself as one of the most eagerly anticipated events on the Figaro Beneteau Class calendar.
Expanding Opportunities for Female Sailors in Offshore Racing
The race, which continues to attract competitors from around the world, also aims to increase opportunities for women in offshore racing. Since the introduction of the mixed-gender format in 2023, driven by OC Sport Pen Duick and Title Partner Paprec, the event has become a powerful platform for promoting greater female participation in the sport.
"I think it's really exciting that the race is sailed in mixed-gender pairs. It adds another dimension to the competition and creates many more opportunities for women to race these boats, opportunities they might not otherwise have had.
I also think mixed-gender teams are very well balanced. It's a great way to make the most of the different strengths each gender can bring, as well as the individual strengths of each sailor. It's really important to build a partnership where you complement each other, both in terms of strengths and weaknesses, and where you enjoy racing together throughout the event. It's a long race, around 17 days, so it's a fantastic challenge.", Ellie Driver, British sailor who competed in the 2025 Transat Paprec alongside fellow Brit Oliver Hill (Women's Engineering Society).
An Unchanged Route
The Transat Paprec route, designed to be challenging while remaining accessible to sailors new to the Figaro Beneteau Class, will remain unchanged for the 2027 edition.
The mixed-gender crews will once again race 3,890 nautical miles from Concarneau to Saint Barthélemy, with a single mandatory waypoint off La Palma (29°00'00"N, 017°52'00"W), to be left to starboard.
The waypoint encourages competitors to take a more southerly route, making the race more accessible to less experienced crews than a more northerly, more demanding course.
"The course is wide open, with a single waypoint that will force competitors to make a strategic choice: either sail the great-circle route (the shortest track), or head much farther south along the African coast before turning west in the hope of finding stronger trade winds," explains Francis Le Goff, Race Director of the Transat Paprec.
Concarneau, the historic capital of Cornouaille, will once again host the start of the race, as it has done since 2006. A town with a strong maritime heritage and a regular host of major sailing events, the "Blue City" lives to the rhythm of the tides. Its magnificent bay, stretching from the fortified old town to the Glénan Archipelago, has provided the training ground for generations of offshore sailors.
"Concarneau and the Transat Paprec have shared a remarkable story for nearly twenty years, one that continues to bring people together. A town of sailors and shipbuilders, Concarneau has always enjoyed a deep connection with the sea, built on respect and boldness, two values that this race embodies perfectly.
Each edition is a highlight for our region. For a week, the harbour is transformed into a vibrant race village, the historic walled town becomes the backdrop to a unique public celebration, and thousands of visitors join the people of Concarneau to experience the excitement of the start.
By hosting the 2027 edition of the Transat Paprec, Concarneau reaffirms its place at the heart of French offshore racing. I am proud to continue this exceptional human and sporting adventure alongside OC Sport Pen Duick and to offer every crew the very best send-off on their journey to Saint Barthélemy."
— Quentin Le Gaillard, Mayor of Concarneau.
As has been the tradition since the race's inaugural edition, the Collectivity of Saint Barthélemy, the jewel of the French Caribbean, will once again welcome the crews with the warm and festive atmosphere for which the island is renowned. It will be an opportunity for sailors and visitors alike to discover, or rediscover, this idyllic destination, surrounded by crystal-clear waters and celebrated for its rich marine life, unspoilt natural beauty and postcard-perfect white-sand beaches.
"Throughout the years, Saint Barthélemy has always been proud to host this truly unique race, one that has continually evolved while remaining a remarkable showcase for emerging talent. In 2023, the Transat Paprec successfully became the world's first 100% mixed-gender double-handed transatlantic race. Next year, Saint Barthélemy will once again be ready to give these sailors the welcome they deserve. As an island of seafarers, we have the greatest respect for those who take on such a challenge" says Xavier Lédée, President of the Territorial Council of Saint Barthélemy.
After crossing the finish line, the skippers will berth in Gustavia Harbour, where the race's Finish Village will welcome competitors and visitors throughout the closing celebrations.
A Legendary Race, A Record to Beat
Since its creation in 1992, the Transat Paprec has provided the stage for some of offshore sailing's biggest names. Jacques Caraës and Michel Desjoyeaux won the inaugural edition in 24 days, 8 hours and 40 minutes, laying the foundations for what would become one of the Figaro Beneteau Class's flagship events. They were followed by Jean Le Cam and Roland Jourdain in 1994, Alain Gautier and Jimmy Pahun in 1996, while Karine Fauconnier, alongside Lionel Lemonchois, delivered one of the race's landmark performances in 2000. She remains, to this day, the only woman to have won the event before the introduction of the mixed-gender format.
Only two sailors have managed the feat of winning the race twice. Armel Le Cléac'h claimed victory in 2004 with Nicolas Troussel and again in 2010 with Fabien Delahaye. More recently, Charlotte Yven became the first skipper to win the Transat Paprec in consecutive editions, triumphing in 2023 with Loïs Berrehar and again in 2025 with Hugo Dhallenne, racing under the Skipper Macif colours.
Performance has also continued to improve. Since the introduction of the foiling Figaro Beneteau 3, finishing times have become increasingly competitive. The race record is held by Nils Palmieri and Julien Villion (TeamWork), who completed the crossing to Saint Barthélemy in 18 days, 5 hours, 8 minutes and 3 seconds in 2021. That benchmark has now stood for two editions, despite the rise in competition following the introduction of the mixed-gender format. The 2023 and 2025 editions both highlighted the exceptional standard of the fleet, with the winning crews completing the course in just under 18 days and 19 hours.
As the 18th edition prepares to set sail from Concarneau on 18 April 2027, every crew will have one target in mind: breaking the race record set by Nils Palmieri and Julien Villion. They will also be aiming to join the exclusive club of two-time Transat Paprec winners alongside Armel Le Cléac'h and Charlotte Yven.