The 2019 edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre is already shaping up to be a historic event. There will be 67 duos at the start, i.e. 134 skippers in the three participating classes, i.e. the Multi50s, IMOCAs and Class40s. As a reminder, the Ultimates will not be present on the 4,350 mile race between Brazil and Salvador de Bahia.
This 14th edition is more than expected as it will be the first race for many new boats, especially in IMOCA. It will also be an opportunity for newcomers to race alongside old sea dogs.
"This edition promises to be exceptional, we have a record number of participants with 67 competitors who will take the start in Le Havre and above all a very high level of competition. We will do everything possible to make this 14th edition an unforgettable event for all the duos present Gildas Gautier, general delegate of the Transat Jacques Vabre.
29 crews in Class40
In 2017, the victory was won - on the line - by V and B (Maxime Sorel/Antoine Carpentier). The duo set a new reference time of 17 days 10 hours 44 minutes and 15 seconds.
This year, all eyes will be on Aïna Enfance et Avenir (Aymeric Chappellier), which has won practically every race this season. We will also have to count on Louis Duc (Carac), whose latest generation boat is devilishly sharp (a sort of sistership to Yoann Richomme's Class40, winner of the 2018 Route du Rhum).
Three new boats launched this year will be worth watching: Banque du Léman (Simon Koster/Valentin Gautier) a Sam Manuard design, Cape Racing Yacht (Jorg Riechers/Christophe Château) from the Owen Clarke Design naval architecture firm and Ian Lipinski's brand new scow designed by David Raison. There are also three other Class40s born in 2018: Leyton (Arthur Le Vaillant/Sam Goodchild), Lamotte Module Création (Luke Berry/Tanguy Le Turquais) and Beijaflore (William Mathelin-Moreau/Marc Guillemot).
5 Multi50
The Multi50 class will host 4 Multi50s ready to sail at high speed across the Atlantic. Thibaut Vauchel-Camus and Fred Duthil (Solidaires en Peloton ARSEP) are aiming for victory on their multihull built in Dubai on a VPLP design in 2018. Alone in his category in the last races, like the Armen Race - he will finally be able to measure himself against his competitors.
Opposite him, Gilles Lamiré, with three participations in the Transat Jacques Vabre, will take up the challenge aboard Team Groupe GCA-Mille et un Sourires, the former FenêtréA, double winner of the Route du Café with Erwan Le Roux. The third competitor is a newcomer to the circuit, Fabrice Payen, who will be the skipper of Gilles Lamiré's former boat. Finally, there will be a fourth crew whose names and boats are kept secret for the moment..
34 IMOCA
Out of the 34 registered crews, 6 IMOCA boats of the latest generation will set off across the Atlantic: Jérémie Beyou's Charal (co-skipper Christopher Pratt) of course, but also Thomas Ruyant's bomb designed by Guillaume Verdier and built in Italy, Alex Thomson's rocket, Hugo Boss, VPLP design built in England, sébastien Simon's brand new Arkea Paprec (co-skipper Vincent Riou), Charlie Dalin's brand new Apivia (co-skipper Yann Eliès), also designed by Guillaume Verdier, and finally the Japanese Kojiro Shiraishi's boat, Charal's sistership.
The time to beat is 13 days and 7 hours, held by Jean-Pierre Dick and Yann Eliès .
The tandems will be varied, a mix of rookies and experienced sailors: Clarisse Cremer, a rookie on the race, will be sailing with Armel Le Cléac'h, Miranda Merron and Halvard Mabire, a couple in the city as well as at sea, will be sailing together for the first time in an Imoca, Nicolas Troussel will be sailing with Jean Le Cam, the five-time world champion Damien Seguin has as co-skipper the last winner of La Solitaire Urgo Le Figaro Yann Richomme, Sam Davies, 5 participations, and Paul Meilhat, winner of the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe..
Key figures
- Marc Guillemot will be participating for the 11th time in the Transat Jacques Vabre
- Kito de Pavant celebrates his 10th participation
- Basile Bourgnon, 17 years old, will be the youngest competitor
- Richard Tolkien, 64, will be the oldest
- Vincent Riou and Halvard Mabire participated in the first edition in 1993
There will be:
- 11 women
- 28 strangers
- 12 nationalities
Opening of the village in Le Havre: Friday, October 18, 2 p.m
