OC Sport Pen Duick

OC Sport Pen Duick, the French subsidiary of OC Sport, is focused on the creation and organisation of ocean races

Intro

History

Founded in 1973 by Eric Tabarly and Gerard Petipas, the Pen Duick name is steeped in history. Originally created to manage Tabarly's famous yachts of the same name, in 1985, with the arrival of Pierre Bojic, the company took a new direction, devoting itself to the creation and organisation of offshore races.

In 2004, the Télégramme Group, a major French media, sports and entertainment group, acquired Pen Duick and with it, an events portfolio that included the Route du Rhum and La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec.

As part of their diversification strategy, in 2014, the Télégramme Group acquired a majority share in OC Sport, resulting in the merger of OC Sport and Pen Duick. From this moment, a new key player in professional sailing was born, OC Sport Pen Duick. Today, the company has the largest portfolio of sailing events in the world.

Our Races

Transat Paprec

The Transat Paprec, formerly the Transat AG2R LA MONDIALE, offers every two years duos to compete on the Atlantic aboard strictly identical boats, the Figaro Bénéteau 3. The only transatlantic race competed on equal footing, it is since 1992 revealing the talents of men and women who take up a sporting and human challenge. In the spring of 2021 the 15th edition will set sail from Concarneau to Saint-Barthélemy.

La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec

La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec is the world's leading annual solo sailing race, and is a flagship event in French offshore sailing. Contested in one-design yachts, the race attracts some of the world's best solo sailors alongside aspiring amateurs looking to make their mark in the offshore world. Taking place annually, the race is normally between 1,500 to 2,000 nautical miles.

La Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe

The Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe is a classic, single-handed, transatlantic race, taking place every four years between Saint Malo, Brittany, France and Pointe-à- Pitre, Guadeloupe.

With over 100 entries on the start line across five classes, it attracts some of the biggest names in the sport. The race attracts more two million people to its race villages, who are drawn by one of the most popular sailing races in France.

The Transat CIC

Created in 1960 by a handful of pioneering British sailors, including Sir Francis Chichester, The Transat CIC, is the original single-handed offshore race. Organised every four years, the race covers 3,400 miles of open water across the north Atlantic from southwest England to New York City.

It is a challenge dominated by the progression of low pressure systems sweeping the ocean that produce the headwinds that define this classic race, making it one of the toughest tests for sailors.

ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE - Brest

The first ever single-handed race around the world in the giant Ultim multihulls will take place in 2023. The race will be organised by OC Sport Pen Duick in collaboration with the Class Ultim 32/23 as well as the skippers and owners of the world's most highly advanced and exciting ocean-going race boats.

An incredible test of both man and machine awaits the skippers, in a race which will no doubt create the greatest heroes of ocean racing. The coming together of these 32-metre giants promises an extraordinary sporting feat that will be shared with people around the globe, guided by strong core values of surpassing oneself, humility, commitment, perseverance, and ambition. The adventure, talent and shared emotions will place the event at the heart of sports conversation and mark a significant moment in the history of ocean sailing.

Tour de Belle Ile

A single 3-kilometre starting line shared by all competitors is the very essence of the TOUR DE BELLE-ILE. Nearly 500 boats line up in the majestic La Trinité sur Mer creating a fantastic sight!

All types of boats rub shoulders, including the IMOCA's which take part in major offshore races (Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe, Transat CIC, etc.), the Ultim 32/23, legendary boats such as Pen Duick and cruising sailboats from 6 meters, among others. The next edition will be held in the spring of 2024.

Licenses

Tabarly

Eric Tabarly is the father figure of French ocean racing. He was an icon to those who followed him, inspiring a whole generation of offshore racers through his training and teaching. A national hero, who was lost at sea in June 1998, Tabarly is now a part of French history, but his passion for sailing lives on through the Tabarly brand.

OC Sport Pen Duick is the licensee for the Tabarly brand. The brand is reflective of the man's values, DNA and passion and provides a modern-day anchor to this important part of French sailing history.

Pen Duick

Pen Duick was the name of Eric Tabarly's first sailing yacht, as well as his five yachts that followed. OC Sport Pen Duick is today the guardian of the Pen Duick brand, which stands for innovation, strong values and victory.