Pamela Lee Reaches Azores for Route du Rhum Repairs

7th November 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Pamela Lee handling a rope aboard her Class40 yacht EmpowHer during the 2026 Route du Rhum solo transatlantic race.

Running repairs: Irish solo sailor Pamela Lee aboard her Class40 EmpowHer, which has reached the Azores for repairs to its charging system and J2 headsail fitting during the Route du Rhum Credit: Richard Mardens

Irish offshore sailor Pamela Lee has reached the Azores for a technical pitstop during the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe solo transatlantic race.

Lee, racing her Class40 yacht EmpowHer, arrived in the Atlantic islands on Saturday morning (7 November) to address problems with her onboard charging system and replace a J2 headsail padeye.

The arrival follows Afloat's report on Friday that the Greystones skipper was diverting for repairs after losing the deck fitting and experiencing persistent electrical problems.

The stop comes as the 49-boat Class40 fleet continues to contend with difficult weather on the 3,542-nautical-mile course from Saint-Malo in France to Guadeloupe in the Caribbean.

The latest race bulletin confirms Lee's arrival in the Azores but does not specify how long repairs are expected to take or when she might resume racing. She had previously indicated her determination to continue after the repairs.

At the front of Class40, Guillaume Pirouelle aboard Sogestran Seafrigo and Achille Nebout aboard Amarris are among the leading contenders, while a southern group of seven boats is expected to encounter improving conditions on Sunday night.

Lee, who received an Irish send-off in Saint-Malo before the 1 November start, is the first Irishwoman to compete in the event. Her immediate priority is to complete the necessary repairs and return to the racecourse. There has been no reported withdrawal.

Published in Pamela Lee, Class40, La Route du Rhum Race

Published in Pamela Lee

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About Pamela Lee, Irish Offshore Sailor

Ireland has produced some of the world’s most dedicated offshore sailors, and Pamela Lee of Greystones is one of them. She has made a name for herself in the sailing world, having worked as a mate on a charter Super-yacht for two and a half years. After coming ashore, she has been fully committed to her offshore sailing ambitions since 2019.

Lee has raced in various craft, including Figaro 3s, Class 40, Tp 52s, and multihulls, and has eight transatlantic crossings under her belt. In partnership with Kenny Rumball, Lee supported Rumball’s La Solitaire du Figaro sailing campaign to secure the Irish berth in the proposed Mixed Offshore Keelboat event for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

One of Lee’s stated main aims is to promote female empowerment in sport, and she set out to establish a double-handed Round Ireland speed record with Englishwoman Cat Hunt in the winter of 2020. This campaign gained much publicity, and Lee expressed pride in bringing sailing and offshore sailing, in particular, into the conversation for 2020.

To further her offshore sailing career, Lee moved to France, where she has recently secured a place to skipper a yacht in the Transat Jacques Vabre Challenge in October 2023. Lee’s passion and dedication to offshore sailing are inspiring, and her achievements are a testament to her hard work and perseverance.