2023-11-02 15:44:03
The first time, in 1993, there were only 13 of them to embark on this new transatlantic, the Coffee Route, from Le Havre to Cartagena in Colombia. Thirteen sailors alone at the helm of their 8 monohulls and 5 multihulls, because in France, ocean reputations are first written in solitary ink. The fight is good, especially since it’s a local guy, Paul Vatine from Le Havre, who wins the multihull category in just over 16 days of racing.
Paul Vatine, the emblematic skipper of this Transat, still present in everyone’s minds because he disappeared too soon in the nasty storm which mourned the 1999 edition. Paul Vatine, winner in 1995 of the second edition who then made the decision which still makes today the singularity of this Transat: becoming a double-handed race. Thirty years later, the tandems are still forming happily, and even more than ever, as Armel Le Cléac’h explains, in search of a victory which always eludes him with Sébastien Josse on his Ultim Banque Populaire: “Sailors are increasingly coming to support certain skippers, without necessarily wanting to lead a project as leader, but by bringing another perspective, by playing luxury crew members and potentially replacements, which is appreciated more and more sponsors, for insurance reasons too. »
A unique and pioneering race
The “TJV” has well and truly established itself in the landscape. With a pioneering label in terms of environmental awareness. The event has been awarded an eco-responsible label since 2011. “We have also been measuring our carbon footprint for a long time and we are working to reduce it with each editionclaims Gildas Gautier, co-director of the Transat. We produce as little waste as possible, which we sort, and we try with our transport partners, thanks to a “green ticket” put in place this year, to promote soft mobility because the travel of our public represents more than 85%. of our shows. We want to play the role of an echo chamber on this environmental issue. It is also our reason for being. »
However, does the coming gigantism not risk threatening good resolutions? “We are indeed perhaps arriving today, with almost a hundred boats, at a maximumadmits Régis Debons, the deputy mayor of Le Havre in charge of sports. Maybe tomorrow we will have to create a qualification system for our race.” One avenue, among others, that Gildas Gautier does not rule out: “A quota per class is a possible consideration. As also a possible ban, in 2025, on cargo returns of certain boats arriving in Martinique. »
An association of ocean racing cities
The subject of race arrivals, which also sometimes go hand in hand with the development of mass tourism, animates many debates. “We can imagine other forms of racing to bring back the boats, or think about these returns in terms of learning or training for young peopleevokes Régis Debons. Things that are being prepared and thought about with all the actors, which we are still missing. »
The three main cities involved in offshore racing – Le Havre, Saint-Malo and Les Sables d’Olonne – have just decided to play together by founding an association to tackle tomorrow’s challenges together, and in particular reduce the environmental impact of their major events. “We have too much of a tendency to work in our own lane, whereas sharing experience and pooling can enrich us allunderlines the elected official. Above all, I believe in our educational mission. Our events are not an exhibition of Formula 1 of the seas, but should provide a better understanding of the culture of the sea, the life of skippers, and everything that happens between races. Truly place man and nature at the heart of our subject. It’s actually what people dream about the most. »
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Courses turned upside down by the weather
The organizers of the Transat Jacques Vabre had bet on four separate courses for the four classes of boats, in order to smooth out their different performances and allow a grouped arrival at Fort-de-France in Martinique. The ace. The weather dictated its law by imposing differentiated departures.
The Last 5,giant trimarans the fastest, leaving on Sunday October 29, head towards Martinique, which they will reach well before everyone else even if they have to make a detour to Ascension Island for the longest race, 7,500 miles (13,900 km). Wednesday, November 1, they were off the coast of Morocco, near the Madeira Islands.
The 6 Ocean Fifty, 15.24 m multihulls, and the forty Class 40s, monohulls barely over 12 m, were forced to make a stopover in Lorient to avoid the storm raging in the middle of the week in the Atlantic.
The 40 Imoca, 18.28 m monohulls, the queen class of Vendée Globe boats, had to wait in Le Havre while waiting for a new shooting window.
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