Transat Jacque Vabre race start, www.transat-jacques-vabre.com
5400 miles nonstop: The famous ocean race Transat Jacques Vabre celebrates its 11th edition this year in its 20-year history. Firstly held in 1993, the double-handed race traditionally starting in the French port city Le Havre takes the fleet for the first time to the new destination city of Itajaí in southern Brazil. In 2012, Itajaí marked a Volvo Ocean Race stopover. 44 boats across 4 classes have registered for the adventure Transat Jacques Vabre 2013. Forming the biggest and most international in the event, Class 40 will see 25 teams of two co-skippers competing. In the IMOCA class, ten duos will set sail across the Atlantic. Amongst them François Gabart, Vendée Globe 2012–2013 winner, with sailing legend Michel Desjoyeaux on the 18,28m long IMOCA 60 ‘Macif’. The two groups of monohulls will start first on Sunday November 3rd heading to Brazil.
Multi 50 class sees French boats „Maître Jacques“ and „FenêtréA Cardinal“ amongst the six in total competing offshore monohulls – Multi 50 race start is scheduled for November 5th. Moreover, a comeback is celebrated at the Transat Jacques Vabre 2013: The orma multihulls are back on the scene with the creation of the new MOD70 class. The two 70′ trimarans ‘Edmond de Rothschild’ and ‘Oman Air’ will be vying for success forming the fastest monohull group with more than 25 knots average to cross the Atlantic – classes’ race start is scheduled for November 8th. The first crews are expected to finish around 19th November at Itajaí. This edition’s host port is set to lay on a spectacular welcome for the arriving teams and for the many visitors with a range exhibitions, shows, gastronomy displays, musical concerts and much more, running right through from November 16th to December 7th. Set a course to Le Havre and/or Itajaí or follow the Position Tracker!