New this year: eight duos will start the Défi Paprec on August 25 in the Bay of Seine at 3:15 p.m., 15 minutes after the competitors of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec. The latter, who will follow the same route as the 37 solo competitors on the first leg of the race, will benefit from a specific ranking.
OC Sport Pen Duick and Paprec, Title Partner of the premier race of the French Elite Offshore Racing Championship, are offering everyone the opportunity to take part in the Paprec Challenge this year, which will be held between Rouen (Seine-Maritime) and Gijón (Spain). This unique initiative aims to attract and train a new generation of skippers in the Figaro BENETEAU 3 and to foster new talent by allowing them to gain experience offshore in double-handed races.
Eight duos in the running
16 sailors are taking part in the Défi Paprec this year: Tiphaine Ragueneau/Paul Medinger (Rêver Large), Isabelle Delaporte/Sidney Gavignet (L'Arche en France), Carlota Alexander/Jeronimo Cervantes Belausteguigoitia (Ehécatl), Ellie Driver/David Paul (Chilli Pepper), Catherine Chimney/Aina Bauza Roig (American Sailboat Racing Foundation), Pierrick Letouzé/Lola Billy (Normandy Offshore Program by Paprec), Hugo Le Clech/Arthur Meurisse (Mieux) and Pier Paolo Dean/Tiphaine Rideau (DeanRacingTeam). Among this line-up with a strong international focus, we find in particular the British Ellie Driver, who will sail with her compatriot David Paul. The latter knows the race well having taken part in it last year. After a training course in Lorient Grand Large following the invitation of Marcus Hutchinson last December, Ellie Driver wanted to try her hand at Figaro. “Sailing in close contact on a one-design boat has allowed me to learn a lot more about certain aspects than in the IRC ,” says the 22-year-old from Worcester. “ I’m looking forward to this stage and learning from the others around me! The Défi Paprec gives us a fantastic opportunity to rub shoulders with the Figaro Class skippers through a double-handed race. I’m looking forward to meeting the fleet and making new friends while trying to learn French. My goals for the Défi Paprec include having fun, getting involved in the Class and learning as much as possible. Next year, I would like to do the Figaro season, including the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec and the Transat Paprec. The Figarmor and the Défi Paprec are part of the process to achieve this .”
For Pierrick Letouzé, the Défi Paprec is also a great opportunity to discover the boat. " Normally, I do more offshore racing but I don't know the Figaro at all. I'm interested in the offshore aspect but in contact because of the one-design. The French elite sails on this boat. The confrontation is going to be interesting. I think the regatta is going to be very close, as is often the case in the Figaro. It really came down to very little in previous years on the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec ," says the Norman, born in Cherbourg, who is really looking forward to discovering the race. " The boat is great, there's a good level and the course is nice. With Lola, we don't necessarily have a sporting objective because we received the boat relatively late and we haven't had much time to train. We're going to try to get on the top step of the podium, but a lot of things can happen during the stage, so we're not going to make any predictions," adds the sailor, who "hopes to do La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec one day ."
A seasoned offshore racer, Sidney Gavignet is delighted to be taking part in the Défi Paprec with Isabelle Delaporte. “ I am very happy that the Défi Paprec exists. It is a great model, the Pro-Am side always works. If it happens again, I will come back with pleasure! It allows Isabelle, who is an amateur, to take part ,” says the winner of the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe 2018 in Rhum Mono. “ The idea is to treat people, to have fun. We have a great fleet of eight boats. It’s great, even if the solo sailors will be the benchmark. On the Défi Paprec, we are in a context of sharing experience. We are lucky to be able to come and play on a professional playing field while learning. I am trying to find the best way to pass on my experience to Isabelle, who has sailed a lot in Quiberon Bay, and who sails in IRC with her husband on their boat .”