No let up in intensity among Transat Paprec leaders off Portuguese coast

Racing some 120 miles NW of Lisbon the leaders of the Transat Paprec have spent their third day at sea racing upwind in 15-17kt breezes on the course from Concarneau to Saint Barth's. There are still less than five miles separating the top five boats and Camille Bertel and Pierre Leboucher (Cap Ingélec) still retain the lead.

Since Sunday's start in Concarneau the conditions for the 11 mixed doubles duos have remained quite manageable and the lead group compact. From the top boat Camille Bertel reported today, "For the moment the conditions are great. We have managed to sleep well since the start of the race and we are in good shape for the rest of the course."

Since the first night the duo Bertel and French 470 Olympian Leboucher have led the fleet. "They made a very good start to the race and through each transition and change have managed to hold their own", reported Francis Le Goff, the race director today.
Bertel commented, "It's nice to be in the lead but there is still such a long way to go and so many options yet that will all require choices to be made."

Meantime Basil Bourgnon, on Edenred with Violette Dorange, celebrated his 21st birthday in third place, less than three miles from the leaders.

"I have a present for him but he will have to wait and get it at the end of the afternoon." Dorange told the daily radio vacations.

The mood is good through the flee, Maël Garnier and Julia Courtois reported they "have seen whales and lots of dolphins" while Loïs Berrehar and Charlotte Yven (MACIF Skipper- were overtaken yesterday by Thibaut Vauchel-Camus' Ocean Fifty (Défi Voile Solidaires en Peloton) who were on delivery to the Mediterranean.