This is one of the showcases of the island: the Tour de Martinique des Yoles Rondes. The most important cultural event after the carnival. For this 36th edition, it is the seaside resort of Vauclin, on the south Atlantic coast, which wins the sesame. Selected to host the prologue of the Tour de Martinique of round skiffs this Sunday, July 31, it will also be the starting point for the first stage on Monday.
“It’s the third time we’ve been chosen for the kick-off. It’s a lot of stress, a lot of meetings for 15 days to organize everything. We are still expecting more than 15,000 people on Sunday. This is a major challenge for our merchants, restaurateurs and craftsmen. They are 90 to have reserved spaces around the finish line”, explains Georges Cléon, mayor of Vauclin.
According to a study conducted in 2017 by the University of the West Indies, the skiff tour as a whole generates more than 10 million euros per edition. For 8 days, more than 150,000 spectators will attend these sailing canoe races, with 14 competing crews sponsored by local businesses. One of the main attractions is the on-water follow-up of the race by hundreds of pleasure boats with up to 30 people each on board. For a day on board, count between 40 and 100 euros.
Michel Jean-Gilles, event organizer, works during the race every year. “We have 3 to 4 catamarans going out every day. And we are already full. After the two years of Covid where we hadn’t had a turn, we feel that we missed it. So welcome cocktail, breakfast, unlimited drinks… We follow the race, with the commentary which goes well… on arrival, musical atmosphere. And then, after lunch, we do the after party, we enter the festive side of the tour. It’s the third half! »
This year, 200 to 600 boats declared their presence in the furrow of the round skiffs during the races. But there could be many more. To date in Martinique, there are no longer any catamaran available for rental for the tour period.
https://tourdesyoles.com/