Pamela Lee Set to Take on the Transat Cafe L'or
Irish offshore sailor Pamela Lee is gearing up to take the start of the Transat Cafe L'or, setting off from Le Havre on October 26th alongside co-skipper Jay Thompson aboard their Class40 #empowher. This will be Lee’s second time competing in the transatlantic race after her first race on an all female team in 2023.
The Class 40's are joined by the IMOCA's, Ocean 50's and Ultim class in Le Havre as they all prepare to depart for this season peak race.
For Pamela Lee and Jay Thompson, this race marks a major milestone in their campaign, the culmination of months of hard work on and off the water. The duo have invested enormous time and effort into getting their boat ready, fine-tuning systems, and training to perform at the highest level.
“This race is a huge step forward for us,” Lee said while delivering the boat to Le Havre. “We’ve put a lot into getting here, the preparation, the upgrades, the logistics. We’re not where we want to be yet, but we’re proud of how far we’ve brought the boat and excited to see what we can do across the Atlantic.”
Lee and Thompson are entering the race with realistic goals but growing confidence. Their boat isn’t the newest or most powerful in the fleet, but they’ve shown they can mix it with the frontrunners.
Currently sitting 8th overall in the Class40 season rankings, they’re aiming for a top-10 finish in this edition of the Transat Cafe L'or. This would be a major boost in confidence as they move them one step closer to their long-term target: the Route du Rhum in 2026.
As always, the weather will play a major role in how the race unfolds. For now, conditions in northern France have been unusually calm in recent weeks, but competitors are expecting that to change dramatically.
“There’s a lot of speculation about what’s coming,” Lee noted. “It’s been too quiet lately, so chances are there’s a big system on the way. We might get a bit of a battering heading down through the Bay of Biscay.”
Despite the potential early challenges, Lee and Thompson are optimistic. Their Class40 performs best in downwind conditions, so once they punch through the initial weather and reach the trade winds, they’ll be in their element.
“The key for us is to hang on through the first few days, keep the boat safe, and then really let her fly once we’re into the trades,” said Lee.
For Pamela Lee, this is more than just another race it’s another significant step in a journey that has already seen her break records and push the boundaries of Irish offshore sailing. From double-handed world records to now competing on the international stage, she continues to raise the profile of Irish sailing on the global scene along with her fellow offshore sailors Tom Dolan and Mark O'Connor..
“This is another chapter in the story,” she said. “It’s about building experience, getting stronger as a team, and showing what’s possible. Every race brings us closer to the level we want to be at.”
The Transat fleet will set sail from Le Havre on October 26, bound for Fort-de-France, Martinique, a 4,350-mile test of endurance.
If you want to follow along and support pam on her journey head over to her channel @pamybefree and see the action for yourself!