52 Super Series: ‘Paprec’ triumph – ‘We’ve been waiting 17 years for this victory’

This victory was long overdue. Last year, Team Paprec had already come close to winning the TP52 World Championship as part of the 52 Super Series, but ultimately had to settle for second place, just one point behind the record champions Team American Magic Quantum Racing were defeated. This year, Les Bleus finished sixth at the World Cup, which was won by the US team “Sled”. At the second event of the season in Puerto Portals, “Paprec” had finished only ninth, despite winning a race and securing top placings, following a rollercoaster ride through the standings.

52 Super Series: ‘Paprec’ crew celebrate historic first event victory

But now, off the coast of Lanzarote, the French team’s run of bad luck has come to an end. The “Paprec” crew, led by Jean-Luc Petithuguenin, secured their first regatta victory in the 52 Super Series. They pulled off this coup because the French crew kept their nerve in the two challenging and windy final races, whilst others faltered. Without making any significant mistakes, the Bretons stormed to victory with finishes of 5th and 2nd, winning the Marina Rubicón Lanzarote Sailing Week – the third event of the season.

“Paprec” started the seventh and final race in third place, one point behind world champion “Sled” and the Italian “Alkedo Vitamina”. In the process, the main contenders effectively ruined their own chances of victory. Right from the start, “Alkedo Vitamina” was one of three boats to get off to an early start. Later in the race, the “Sled” world champions were handed a penalty. At the finish, second place was enough for “Paprec” to clinch the event victory, as “Alkedo Vitamina” finished fifth and “Sled” could not manage better than tenth place.

The “Paprec” crew, led since last year by the tactician and offshore all-rounder Loïck Peyron, who has enjoyed increasing sporting success, which had been in action for the first time off Lanzarote with Yoann Richomme, runner-up in the Vendée Globe, as navigator, After their victory, all hell broke loose. Owner Jean-Luc Petithuguenin said: “I’ve been waiting the last 17 years to win a TP52 regatta, and I’m so happy! You can’t even imagine it.”

“A small French team from Brittany” making a big splash

Petithuguenin went on to explain this overwhelming feeling in a little more detail: “As you know, I started from scratch. I began 30 years ago with my family at my first regatta in Brest with Stéphane Névé. And that’s why it’s something quite incredible for me: a small French team from Brittany – the French part of Brittany – has managed to win – against all those stars, all those lads who are among the very best in the world of sailing.”

Co-owner, project manager and skipper Stéphane Névé, who has been sailing with Petithuguenin and his family for 30 years, was still wiping tears from his eyes in the harbour after the final when he said: “It was just too much emotion for me after we crossed the finish line. When you consider that our first race in a TP52 took place in 2009 and we’ve been waiting 17 years for this victory – today was truly incredible for us!”

In 2012, Team Paprec was among the first teams to join the officially established 52 Super Series. Since then, Petithuguenin and his team have been among the series’ most passionate supporters. Following the victory, the owner paid particular tribute to his crew, not least Stéphane Névé. For Jean-Luc Petithuguenin, who once transformed the small recycling company Paprec into a successful group and provides strong support for French sailing at many levels, the victory in Lanzarote marks his sailing team’s greatest sporting achievement; of them, he says: “They are my second family.”

“Platoon Aviation” finishes strongly once again: two “Bullets” in the final

Amidst the French team’s celebrations, it was almost overlooked that Harm Müller-Spreer’s crew on “Platoon Aviation” once again demonstrated flawless finishing skills. On the final day, the team led by owner, helmsman and tactician Vasco Vascotto showed, with two consecutive race wins, what the 2017 world champions are capable of, 2019 and 2023 are capable of. The team, who finished fourth in the event, were just two points short of a place on the Lanzarote podium of the 52 Super Series following their irresistible final performance. Click here for the results from Lanzarote and the league table for the season.

Thanks to this spectacular performance, “Platoon Aviation” remains a strong contender in the 52 Super Series, which, after three of five events, is led by world champions “Sled” with a total of 120 points. The only German TP52 lies in second place with 137 points, lying in wait. Closer behind are “Alkedo Vitamina” (140 points) and “Paprec” (157 points). In fifth place out of a total of 16 TP52s is the Dutch yacht “No Way Back” with 165 points.

There is a palpable sense of excitement in the air ahead of the remaining two events of the season. The 52 Super Series fleet will be back in action in late summer off the coast of Lanzarote: the Puerto Calero Lanzarote Royal Cup takes place from 24 to 29 August. The season will draw to a close from 5 to 10 October in the former America’s Cup venue of Valencia with the 52 Super Series Valencia Sailing Week.

Replay! The Lanzarote final: