In less than 24 hours, we’ll know the winner, the podium, and the full rankings of this incredible Transat Paprec. As they battle through a windless zone that’s capturing everyone’s attention, the competitors know that anything is still possible.

Earlier today, the northernmost boats (Cap St Barth, Hellowork, Selencia – Cerfrance) made significant gains before getting stuck once again in the calm. The top 12 could cross the finish line within just four hours of each other. So we’ll have to wait—just a little longer—to experience this emotional climax!

Race update

• The first boats are expected to arrive in the middle or late part of the night in Saint Barthélemy (late morning or early afternoon Paris time)
• Just four hours could separate the top 12 at the finish line
• For a time on Thursday, the northern boats picked up speed significantly before slowing down again
• After a particularly stormy phase, weather conditions should gradually stabilize throughout the day
• A prefectural decree has been issued to ensure safety on the water and to avoid disrupting the race finish
• A live video stream will be available on the Transat Paprec website, YouTube, and Facebook

“Last breakfast—or second-to-last?” Anaëlle Pattusch (Humains en action) poses the question, and it’s not just small talk. The time has come to realize that the race is nearly over, and that these 18 days of effort are already becoming memories. And yet, this is no moment for reflection—it’s time for action, for the final push toward the finish. The overall situation remains as unpredictable as ever.

The Northerners: pedal to the metal

The fleet is tightly grouped—less than 50 nautical miles apart laterally—and the first 12 boats are expected to finish within a four-hour window. This morning, the northern route appeared to be paying off thanks to a squall that pushed those boats forward. Cap St Barth (Cindy Brin and Thomas André), Hellowork (Davy Beaudart and Julie Simon), and Selencia – Cerfrance (Maël Garnier and Catherine Hunt) were making 10 to 12 knots even though routing software predicted only 4 to 5 knots. But it didn’t last—by this afternoon, they too were caught in light winds.

It’s an emotional rollercoaster across the fleet. Just a few hours ago, Adrien Simon (FAUN), sailing the southern route, described it as “a cold shower.” “The forecast shows we’re not going to make it through—it’s hard to take.” Yann Chateau is more measured: “It’s true, things don’t look great for the southerners, but there’s still hope. We’ve seen so many twists and turns, and we’re still in an area with squalls. What the northerners just experienced could still happen for the southerners too.”

Climax expected overnight

But it’s now only a matter of hours before things become clearer. As Yann Chateau explained to race management: “Weather conditions should stabilize somewhat this afternoon in Saint Barthélemy (this evening in mainland France). Even though the winds remain light, they’ll be better oriented from the east.” One thing is certain: the boats currently side by side should remain grouped at the finish. “Those that are closest will face the same weather systems and squalls, so they’re likely to stay bunched together.” However, there could still be significant speed differences between groups depending on how they are affected by squalls.

The first boats could cross the line during the night or early morning in Saint Barthélemy (late morning to midday in Paris). “The storm risk remains relatively high at the moment,” adds Yann Chateau. “But an easterly trade wind is slowly rebuilding. It should be stronger tomorrow and provide more consistent conditions for the fleet to progress steadily.”

The forecast calls for ideal finishing conditions with around 10 knots of wind—perfect for wrapping up the race and finally enjoying all that Saint Barthélemy has to offer. All eyes will also be on the finishing times. In 1994, just 63 seconds separated Jean Le Cam and Roland Jourdain (1st place) from Bertrand de Broc and Marc Guillemot (2nd). Could the gap be even smaller this time—31 years later?

How to follow the finish?

Even from across the Atlantic, you won’t miss a moment of this dramatic finish. A live video stream will be available on the official Transat Paprec website as well as on YouTube and Facebook. In addition, the race tracker will update every five minutes. All videos, photos, and reactions will be available on the race website and social media channels.

• Transat Paprec Website
• Race Tracker
• YouTube Live of the Finish

by Transat Paprec