The fleet has gathered in Le Havre ahead of the opening of the TRANSAT CAFÉ L’OR village. With just nine days remaining until the start of the 17th edition of the race, all skippers have now arrived, marking the beginning of festivities. The double-handed race from Le Havre to Martinique is scheduled to start on Sunday, October 26. Tomorrow, at 10:00hrs local time, the public will be able to visit the village, meet the skippers, and enjoy various activities.
KEY POINTS:
- 148 skippers, 74 boats, 4 classes
- All sailors are now on site
- The four separate starts will occur from Sunday, October 26, at 14:00hrs local time.
- The village opens to the public tomorrow at 10:00 a.m.
In the lead-up to the race, the skippers have enjoyed mild autumn weather, with a high-pressure system settled over western France. With the boats now docked in Le Havre, the countdown to the classic Atlantic race has begun.
Competition levels in all four classes are expected to be high. In the ULTIM class, four boats will compete, including defending champions Armel Le Cléac’h and Sébastien Josse (Maxi Banque Populaire XI) alongside Tom Laperche and Franck Cammas (SVR Lazartigue), who lead the season’s honours.
The Ocean Fifty class features ten boats, with Erwan Le Roux and Audrey Ogereau (Koesio) leading after two Grand Prix victories this season. Defending champion Thibault Vauchel-Camus and Damien Seguin (Solidaires en Peloton) are also contenders, along with Jean-Baptiste Gellée and Matthieu Perraut (Inter Invest).
The IMOCA class will see 18 boats racing closely together, with contenders like Sam Goodchild and Lois Berrehar (MACIF Santé Prévoyance), Yoann Richomme and Corentin Horeau (Paprec Arkéa), and others vying for the podium.
Class40s will have the largest fleet, with around ten duos including Corentin Douguet and Axel Tréhin (Donate at SNSM.Org) and Fabien Delahaye and Pierre Le Boucher (Legallais) among the favourites.
LOOKING AHEAD: On Sunday, October 26, the first class to depart will be the 42 Class40s, followed by the 18 IMOCAs, 10 Ocean Fiftys, and 4 ULTIMs. Each class will start every quarter of an hour from 14:00, allowing the public to enjoy the spectacle before the boats sail for Martinique, aiming for a grouped arrival in Fort-de-France around November 6.
For the four classes, the defined courses are as follows:
- ULTIM: 6,200 nautical miles, leaving the “Ascension” waypoint to starboard
- IMOCA: 4,350 nautical miles, leaving the Canaries to starboard
- Ocean Fifty: 4,600 nautical miles, leaving Cape Verde to starboard
- Class40: 3,750 nautical miles, leaving the Azores to starboard
10 DAYS OF FESTIVITIES AT THE VILLAGE: The race village in Le Havre opens tomorrow, October 17, until October 26, with a schedule from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The official inauguration will occur on Saturday at 10:30 a.m., featuring the founders of the race.
At the press conference held today, sailors expressed their enthusiasm for the upcoming race. The atmosphere among the fleet was lively, with many looking forward to the adventure ahead.
Quotes from Leaders:
Édouard Philippe, Mayor of Le Havre, noted the growing enthusiasm around the race, stating, “The name of the race has changed, but the spirit remains intact.” Vincent Prolongeau, CEO of JDE Peet’s Southern Europe, highlighted the race’s expanding international presence.
Didier Laguerre, Mayor of Fort-de-France, celebrated the race as a unique showcase for Martinique and its cultural heritage.
With the race drawing near, excitement is building among the participating sailors and the public alike.
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About TRANSAT CAFÉ L’OR Le Havre Normandie
The TRANSAT CAFÉ L’OR Le Havre Normandie is the longest and most demanding of the transatlantic races. Every two years, the skippers set off in pairs from the port of Le Havre to coffee-growing countries. The adventure was born in 1993, from a partnership between the city of Le Havre and the JDE Peet’s group, owner of the L’OR brand. Through committed choices in all aspects of the race (sporting, partnership, operational, communication), the TRANSAT CAFÉ L’OR association wishes to be a key player in the transformation of ocean racing for greater accessibility, sustainability and popularity. By exploring the imaginaries of ocean racing, it wishes to show a way towards a more sustainable and inclusive world, while continuing to transmit dreams and a taste for daring.
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