/ 
Paul Cousin (981 âeuros AFP Biocombustibles) crossed the finish line in Saint-François, Guadeloupe on Sunday November 9 at 14:39 UTC . Behind him, a race mastered from start to finish. With a lead of over 60 miles over those chasing after him, the skipper won the only stage of this 2025 edition of the Mini Transat with panache.
A solid crossing, a well-deserved victory
With a race time of 14 days, 23 hours, 39 minutes and 24 seconds, Paul Cousin completed the crossing at an average speed of 9.2 knots over the bottom. This performance is all the more remarkable given that he was in the lead for most of the race, maintaining an intense, uncompromising pace.
"I've never sailed so well"
Contacted shortly after his arrival, Paul confided:
"It's full of emotions you don't expect. I'm very happy to have crossed the line first. I think I had a great race, I'm happy with myself. I've never sailed so well in an ocean race."
The skipper recounts how he put aside sleep and food to keep up with his rivals in this race. A strategy of total commitment that paid off, despite the extreme isolation of a transatlantic race without communication or visual reference points:
"What I missed most was the vision of the game âeuros knowing who does what âeuros and there, it's solo all the way. You've got to stick with it."
Apart from a torn spinnaker bag, Paul Cousin's scow finished the race in perfect condition. An added bonus for this experienced competitor, already well-versed in major solo races. He was announced as one of the favorites, on the strength of an impressive season (victories in the Plastimo Lorient Mini, the Select and the Trophée MAP).
A victory with a taste of consecration
For Paul, this success is much more than a sporting achievement:
"This is the culmination of three years of hard work... All my family, my girlfriend, my friends are here. It's crazy."
He's already looking to the future, perhaps the Figaro circuit. But for now, he's focusing on the emotion of crossing the finish line alone, after nearly 15 days at sea.
