I didn't think I was going to be, but somehow I've found myself hooked on the adventure story that is the 2025 Transat Parec, where a fleet of 19 mixed sex Beneteau 3 crews are fighting it out on a racecourse that takes them from Concarneau, France across the Atlantic to St Barths.
For eight days straight, this fleet of dual-sex crews has been enjoying some pretty lovely-looking downwind sailing since they set off from northern France on April 20. Spinnakers have been up virtually non-stop since the start, but while it may appear idyllic from behind our keyboards and screens, the incessant sail changes and strategic gybing routines has meant bleary-eyed, sleep-deprived sailors across the fleet.
Despite that, it clear that the crews are having tremendous fun on this incredible adventure. I don't have the stats but I'm sure the bulk of the sailors are racing transatlantic for the first time. Judging by the videos coming back from the boats, everyone has been enjoying surfing conditions – with the breeze in the teens and low twenties, the boats have been humming along at double-digit speeds.
Over the weekend the fleet rounded the only turning mark on the 3,890-nautical-mile course, a waypoint just north of the volcanic island of La Palma in the Canary Islands. It was a windy night time rounding for some with winds reportedly up to 45 knots at times.
The IMOCA Class returns to the racecourse today for the first time in 2026, with a small but high quality fleet of solo skippers taking on the fifth edition of the 1000 Race.
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