Irish offshore sailor Pamela Lee has secured €40k in sponsorship from Ireland-France ferry operator DFDS/Brittany Ferries for her Class40 project as she prepares to set sail for the Transat Jacques Vabre transatlantic sailing race in October.
Lee will skipper one of only three all-women teams taking part in the race, alongside Tiphaine Ragueneau.
Pamela, 34, from Greystones Harbour in County Wicklow, Ireland, and Tiphaine, 30, from the Finistère region of France, start racing on 29 October 2023.
The Transat Jacques Vabre race is one of the most prestigious events on the international sailing calendar, with 100 boats participating. Its route from the French seaside resort of Le Havre to Fort-de-France Bay in the Caribbean traces a historic coffee trading route. The race is named after Jacques Vabre, the French ground coffee brand, and was created in 1993.
Crews prepare to depart for the 40 Malouine race in Saint-Malo on 23 September as they continue preparations for the Transat Jacques Vabre race in October
Pamela is an experienced sailor who has crossed the Atlantic ten times in her career. As regular Afloat readers know, she established a Round Ireland world speed sailing record with the UK's Cat Hunt in 2020.
Tiphaine works as a full-time vet in France and has been a competitive sailor for ten years, competing at World Championship Level since 2017.
Looking forward to the start of the Transat race, Tiphaine said: “We know the race will be very intense, and with this course, we feel like we’re really stepping up a level, but we can’t wait to get started.”
Lee, who recently won the Cap Pour Elles project, has also gained support from sailing gear manufacturer, Musto.
