From this summer’s edition onwards the premier annual solo multi-stage offshore race will be known as La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec. The Paprec Group have increased their commitment to organisers OC Sport Pen Duick after their participation in 2022 as Principal Partner. The race has a new visual identity, logo and graphic charter which was launched in Paris this week.
The Paprec Group are now title sponsors of the annual pinnacle solo race of the French Offshore Elite championship. This year’s race starts from Caen on August 27th. The initiative complements Paprec’s support for the ‘mixed doubles’ Transat Paprec which has just been run and which they are committed to for 2025 and 2027. Paprec’s support for La Solitaire Figaro Paprec is at least until 2027.
“We are pleased to strengthen our partnership with Paprec who were with us on the Solitaire du Figaro in 2022 and are with us on the 2023, 2025 and 2027 editions of the Transat Paprec,” enthused Joseph Bizard, the Managing Director OC Sport Pen Duick. “This new long-term commitment will allow the race to gain more momentum. We would like to thank Paprec for their trust and their commitment. This will allow us to build a better event for our sailors and also the general public who we expect to welcome in large numbers in each of the host cities of this upcoming 2023 edition of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec, Caen will host the Grand Départ of the race, Kinsale (Ireland), Baie de Morlaix (Finistère) and Piriac-sur-Mer (Loire-Atlantique), where the final outcome of the race will be decided this year”.
As on the last four races, La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec will once again crown the overall winners in the region of Loire-Atlantique who are Major Partners of the race until 2026..
From left to right: Hervé Favre: President of OC SPORT Pen Duick / Florent Schindler, Director of Information, Figaro Nautisme / Sébastien Petithuguenin, Managing Director of the Paprec group / Joseph Bizard, Managing Director of OC SPORT Pen Duick
A natural commitment for Paprec Paprec embraces the values required on the race, sporting commitment, pushing the individual, perseverance and human adventure. They are committed to the race for five years as Title Partner. They have been in sailing for more than two decades, alongside major sailors and so this partnership with this one-design race is natural fit for them. It is a very, very challenging event on which amateurs and young sailors can take on the best solo ocean racers on equal terms in identical boats,
La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec has uncovered many future legends of ocean racing. Last year, it was a rookie, Guillaume Pirouelle, who finished second on the general classification.
By strengthening its commitment to racing, Paprec will underpin this key offshore sailing sector, reflecting the Group’s desire to support young sailors at the start of their career allowing them a fast track to the bigger, prestigious offshore races.
“The Solitaire du Figaro Paprec is an offshore race with a very high level of competition and very close hotly contested battles. It is a race that symbolizes the ideal of meritocracy: the necessary budgets remain accessible. It is raced in one designs, on equal terms, so is the talent of the sailor, a mixture of hard work and natural abilities, that makes all the difference. Paprec is also happy to be associated with a race whose sustainable nature is well established. Indeed, the Figaro BENETEAU 3 are boats built in France and born to last a long time. Finally, over time, Paprec wishes, with its long-term vision to reflect on the evolution of the races run in Figaro with the organizers and the members of the Figaro Bénéteau Class so that the latter continues to attract the best sailors”, says Sébastien Petithuguenin, Managing Director of Paprec.