Transat Paprec

A transatlantic where only talent makes the difference

Concarneau, south coast of Finistère. When the Figaro 3 fleet sets sail for the 2027 Transat Paprec, each duo will tackle the same 3,890 nautical miles to Gustavia on strictly identical boats. No massive budgets, no technological advantage: here, it's brains and brawn that separate the crews.

Since mandatory mixed-gender racing was introduced in 2023, this race has become the only major transatlantic event where men and women systematically sail together. A format that has already produced its first icon: Charlotte Yven, two-time defending champion.

Thirty years of knife-edge duels

The pioneers (1992–2018)

Created in 1992 as the Transat AG2R, the race has always delivered nail-biting finishes. In the second edition, in 1994, Jean Le Cam and Roland Jourdain won by just 63 seconds — a margin still etched in the circuit's memory.

Over the decades, the race has served as a springboard to the Vendée Globe. Armel Le Cléac'h (winner in 2004 and 2010), Charlie Dalin (2012), and Thomas Ruyant (2018) all learned to read the North Atlantic here before aiming for a round-the-world record.

The mixed-gender turning point (2023–2025)

Paprec's arrival as title sponsor coincided with a major rule change: each pair must consist of one man and one woman. The gamble paid off immediately on the sporting front.

• 2023: Loïs Berrehar & Charlotte Yven won by just 42 minutes after 18 days at sea.
• 2025: Charlotte Yven won again alongside Hugo Dhallenne. Behind them, 12 boats crossed the line within 3 hours of each other.

The progression is clear: six days less between 1992 and 2023, mainly thanks to boat development.

The course: the Atlantic's great dilemma

Spectacular start in La Forêt Bay

The fleet rounds a mark off Cap Coz then passes beneath the ramparts of Concarneau's Ville Close, offering a spectacular coastal show before heading offshore into the Bay of Biscay.

North or South? The strategic dilemma

Past Cape Finisterre, each duo faces the choice that can decide the race outcome:

• Southern option (trade winds): Drop down toward the Canaries to catch steady downwind conditions. Longer in miles, but more stable.
• Northern option (great circle): Stay close to the direct route, at the cost of tougher conditions — depressions, rough seas, potential headwinds.

The 2021 edition saw Nils Palmieri and Julien Villion win with a bold northern option. In 2025, both strategies produced almost identical results, proof that the Figaro 3's speed can smooth out routing differences.

Gustavia: deliverance

Making landfall at Saint Barthélemy often catches crews out with dying winds near the coast. After nearly three weeks at sea, Gustavia harbor closes the chapter with a welcome that's part of this race's legend.

The Figaro Bénéteau 3: foils, zero compromise

The first production monohull equipped with foils, the Figaro Bénéteau 3 replaced its predecessor in 2019. Designed by VPLP, it has raised the physical and technical demands of the class to new heights.

Its "chistera" profile foils — curved inward — don't make the boat fly like an IMOCA, but they reduce leeway and increase righting moment. The result: real performance gains without adding ballast, at the cost of constant physical reactivity from the crew. The keel is fixed, a deliberate choice for reliability and cost control. No sloppiness is tolerated: poor foil management instantly hurts your VMG.

Find the complete specification and compare competing boats on spencer.club.

The faces of the 2027 edition

The one to beat

Charlotte Yven arrives with a unique record: two consecutive victories with two different co-skippers (Berrehar in 2023, Dhallenne in 2025). This ability to perform regardless of partner speaks volumes about her racing intelligence and mastery of the FB3.

The new guard

Duos like Romain Bouillard & Irina Gracheva (2nd in 2025) or young Gaston Morvan represent a generation trained entirely in the mold of mixed-gender racing and foiling Figaros. For them, sailing in mixed doubles isn't a constraint — it's the standard.

The legacy in the background

Past winners — Dalin, Ruyant, Le Cléac'h — continue to regard this transatlantic as a mandatory stepping stone for anyone with Vendée Globe ambitions.

The 2027 stakes

Record-breaking tightness expected

In 2025, 17 boats finished within 24 hours of each other after 18 days of racing. The trend is clear: the fleet tightens up with every edition. Maintaining sprint pace over marathon distance demands surgical sleep management and extraordinary mental resilience.

Mixed-gender as the performance standard

Three editions after its introduction, the mixed-doubles rule is no longer a topic of debate. The results speak for themselves: mixed-gender duos produce a level of competition at least equal to — and margins often tighter than — the old all-male formats. Under the aegis of Paprec, the recycling giant and title sponsor, the race also carries a coherent environmental and social message.

Calendar to watch

Recent editions have consistently started in late April (April 20 in 2025). Any calendar shift would radically alter the weather equation in the Bay of Biscay — winter depressions are nothing like spring conditions. Official confirmation from OC Sport Pen Duick will be crucial.

Follow news of this race and check the full calendar on spencer.club.