Cap pour Elles with Engie Aina Bauza and Axelle Pillain are winners of the 2025 prize

Aïna Bauza et Axelle Pillain, le duo Cap pour Elles 2025

From a chance meeting in a busy parking lot to the challenges of the wide open spaces of the ocean,  Aina Bauza and Axelle Pillain now share the same destiny, winning the third Cap pour Elles which aims to allow a pair of women to participate in their first TRANSAT CAFÉ L’OR as their first ocean race. 

This 2025 edition has already achieved a broader appeal with 13 applications in the mix (starting with just four in 2021 and 10 in 2023), proof that the programme is attracting more and more young female sailors. Currently women still only represent 10% of the offshore racing participants

 

A custom designed preparation

After a rigorous selection process Bauza and Pillain won the right to dream big and prepare for the TRANSAT CAFÉ L’OR Le Havre Normandie set to work together in optimal conditions with a professional setting. Their dedicated programme features technical support and sports coaching all driven by the experienced Team Manager, Anne Combier, who will soon explain the outline of their detailed preparation up to the start of the famous two handed Route du Café transatlantic.

 

“A magnificent opportunity”

Originally from Brest, Axelle Pillain caught the ocean racing bug during her Mini Transat in 2019. She moved to Lorient and became an electronics engineer, which led her to collaborate with major teams. In 2023, she worked with Malizia on The Ocean Race and took part in one of the stages. Last year, the skipper decided to strike out on her own by setting up her own business to launch her own projects. Cap pour Elles was the perfect opportunity to do so. Initially rejected, a phone call from Aina Bauza changed everything.

Aina suggested we go for a coffee in Lorient, and I wasn't quite sure why. In my mind, I had put the TRANSAT CAFÉ L’OR aside and was looking to join a team to work as an engineer, until Aina called me and suggested we form a new duo together.
Axelle Pillain
Cap pour Elles with Engie's team

Halfway between the Olympic Games and the Vendée Globe

"We hope to go fast, sail in the trade winds and finish in a good position," continues Bauza, 30, a native of the island of Majorca who is also now based in Lorient after completing her studies in the merchant navy and leaving Olympic sailing. She narrowly missed the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games in the ILCA 6 

It's great to be part of this event with all these big boats and big names, but this TRANSAT CAFÉ L'OR is just an ideal passage for both of us. To learn, train and achieve our dream of sailing around the world single-handed, and competing in the Vendée Globe in IMOCA in 2028 or 2032.
Aina Bauzat
Cap pour Elle with Engie's Team

Influencers immersed

In the meantime, these two ambitious women with strong minds are already in step with the philosophy of the most legendary double-handed transatlantic race. While their potential is enormous the duo share  five modern languages ​​between them and intend to share "their adventure with lots of people", particularly via social networks. They will even return from Martinique in November with influencers aboard their Class 40 aiming to "inspire all those who have dreams" (Aina). 

Cap pour Elles avec Engie
They are not only a crew of women, but a crew of sailors that has been selected. We must not reduce women to being ‘just’ women. What I really liked, what touched me, was their team spirit. They are a bold, well-prepared, responsible crew and are friends. They bring a breath of fresh air, with innovation and a way of thinking about racing. They have lots of innovative ideas, both technologically and environmentally, but also in terms of communication. They will have an impact on young people and will bring inspiration. They dared to go for this and dare to dream big. They are already true champions.
Dr Claudie Haigneré
CNES/ESA astronaut, patron of the TRANSAT CAFÉ L'OR and the Cap pour Elles project
For Engie, which has renewed its partnership with the Cap pour Elles program, it is a real source of pride to give the opportunity to two young female engineers who have a great talent. At their age and at their current stage, they already are role models. With such profiles, there is no better way to inspire the younger generation to come and sail the world's oceans. They are a great duo. They are incredible!
Dominique Wood-Benneteau
Director of Communication and of the Engie brand
This is the third edition of the Cap pour Elles program with ENGIE, the one of maturity. Never have we received so many projects, never so international, never finally have they been of such quality both in terms of preparation and the sporting ambition of the sailors who presented them. Caroline and Aina are inspiring women, we can't wait to introduce you to them a little more.
Gildas Gautier
Co-CEO of the TRANSAT CAFÉ L'OR