Foto copyright Alexis Courcoux
Foto copyright Alexis Courcoux
D - 9
Friday, october 21, 2011
Transat Jacques Vabre D - 9 : Nine days to start. Counting them all in.
- The official opening of the Transat Jacques Vabre Race Village is Sturday, October 22nd
- Inshore Regatta Exhibition Virtual Regatta racing Saturday and Sunday for the 36 crews
- Race skippers presented to the public Saturday 22 at 18:00
On schedule most of the race fleet have mustered in Le Havre's famous Paul Vatine Basin for the countdown celebrations prior to next weekend's start of the tenth edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre transatlantic race from Le Havre to Costa Rica.
For each of the teams the weeks of preparation are behind them, the passage to the start safely completed and the week ahead should hold only minor jobs, weather studies, official briefings and the chance to savour the unique atmosphere which surrounds the race docks. Tens of thousands of visitors will arrive from all over Europe to see the skippers and their race boats. And the prospects of a reasonable week of weather can only be good for the build-up.
Being in Le Havre on the day of the final of the Rugby World Cup has a curious twist of history. In fact it is in Le Havre in 1840 that the first races were held in France. And here one of the the oldest rugby clubs Le Havre Athletic Club, was born found in 1872.
From Le Havre to New Zealand, there is a big step, but the few Kiwi skippers waiting for the start will doubtless be made welcome among the French as the Rugby World Cup Final approaches.
A village with many opportunities
On Saturday at 11 am local time the race village of the Transat Jacques Vabre will be officially inaugurated. In the presence of Mr. Philippe Edouard, Mayor of Le Havre, Jacques Rosio, chief marketing officer of Kraft Foods coffee, Fabrice Delloye, Ambassador of France to Costa Rica and Pierre Bojic, CEO of Pen Duick will enjoy the infectious rhythms of the Corazon de Mexico that the delegation will cut the ribbon to mark the opening of the village. From that moment, Le Havre will sway to the rhythm of village's many attractions: street music, enjoy the basins of the city of Le Havre, visit the replica of a pirate frigate of 1745, the Etoile du Roy, are just some of the key opportunities to be enjoyed within the huge dock area.
And at 18:00hrs on Saturday, October 22, all the skippers will be presented to the public in Le Havre.
Prologue: the regatta with an edge.
Saturday, the 36 duos of the Transat Jacques Vabre will take part in a regatta to be held throughout the weekend with qualifying rounds on Saturday and the finals on Sunday. Racing on First Class 7.50m of the Ligue de Voile de Haute-Normandie, competitors will be divided into four groups of nine boats who will compete in two rounds in the basin of the Eure.
The top five in each group will meet Sunday morning in two semi-finals of ten boats. Finally, the top five in each semi-final will qualify for the finals Sunday afternoon to be held over three races.
Race schedule:
- Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., qualifying regattas.
- Sunday from 11:00 to 12:30, semi-finals.
- Sunday from 2:15 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., final.
The races will be discussed in public can follow live all around the basin of the Eure.
All safe and sound
It was finally at 12 hrs when the stream of arrivals ended as the deadline for the arrivals of the competitors passed and the last boat passed the locks into the haven of the Paul Vatine. On friday afternoon, the Multi 50 "monopticien.com", 40 Degrees and Aquarelle.com were the only boats missing.
Yannick Bestaven and Eric Drouglazet are victims of a damaged rudder sustained on delivery and are currently on standby in Saint-Quay Portrieux. They are making every effort to be on the starting line.
Make a date!
October 21, 1200 midday: Deadline for arrival of the boat in Le Havre
October 22, 11:00: Inauguration of the Transat Jacques Vabre race village
22 and 23 October: Exhibition Regatta "Regatta Virtual Inshore"
October 30, 10:45: Dock out of the race fleet
October 30, 1:02 p.m.: Start of the 10th Transat Jacques Vabre
First arrivals IMOCA Multi50 and Costa Rica from November 14, Class40 from November 22
The defending champions 2009 (20 registered)
Imoca:
Safran, Marc Guillemot - Charles Caudrelier Benac
Finished on 24/11/2009 in 15 days, 19 hours, 22 minutes and 10 seconds
at 12.46 knots average
Multi 50:
Winner: Crepes Whaou! Franck Yves Escoffier - Erwan Le Roux
Finished on 24/11/2009 in 15 days, 15 hours, 31 minutes and 50 seconds
at 13.41 knots average
- Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., qualifying regattas.
- Sunday from 11:00 to 12:30, semi-finals.
- Sunday from 2:15 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., final.
The races will be discussed in public can follow live all around the basin of the Eure.
All safe and sound
It was finally at 12 hrs when the stream of arrivals ended as the deadline for the arrivals of the competitors passed and the last boat passed the locks into the haven of the Paul Vatine. On friday afternoon, the Multi 50 "monopticien.com", 40 Degrees and Aquarelle.com were the only boats missing.
Yannick Bestaven and Eric Drouglazet are victims of a damaged rudder sustained on delivery and are currently on standby in Saint-Quay Portrieux. They are making every effort to be on the starting line.
Make a date!
October 21, 1200 midday: Deadline for arrival of the boat in Le Havre
October 22, 11:00: Inauguration of the Transat Jacques Vabre race village
22 and 23 October: Exhibition Regatta "Regatta Virtual Inshore"
October 30, 10:45: Dock out of the race fleet
October 30, 1:02 p.m.: Start of the 10th Transat Jacques Vabre
First arrivals IMOCA Multi50 and Costa Rica from November 14, Class40 from November 22
The defending champions 2009 (20 registered)
Imoca:
Safran, Marc Guillemot - Charles Caudrelier Benac
Finished on 24/11/2009 in 15 days, 19 hours, 22 minutes and 10 seconds
at 12.46 knots average
Multi 50:
Winner: Crepes Whaou! Franck Yves Escoffier - Erwan Le Roux
Finished on 24/11/2009 in 15 days, 15 hours, 31 minutes and 50 seconds
at 13.41 knots average
