Over recent days all the skippers have benefited from the benign Autumn weather thanks to a high pressure system which remains settled over western France. Most of the 148 sailors in the TRANSAT CAFÉ L'OR Le Havre Normandie have just completed their delivery passages to Le Havre this week. Now, with the boats in place, lined up along the docks in Le Havre, the clock is counting down towards the start for the classic race across the Atlantic.
In all four competing divisions the level of competition promises to be particularly high and exciting. In the ULTIM class, four boats will be competing, including the defending champions Armel Le Cléac'h and Sébastien Josse (Maxi Banque Populaire XI) as well as the duo who won the main Ultime honours so far this season, Tom Laperche and Franck Cammas (SVR Lazartigue).
It’s difficult to identify a favourite from the ten Ocean Fifty boats , although the duo of Erwan Le Roux and Audrey Ogereau (Koesio) seem to be in the lead with two Grand Prix victories this season.
In the IMOCA class, 18 boats will be competing, and the contenders for victory are closely matched position. Britain’s Sam Goodchild and his French counterpart Lois Berrehar (MACIF Santé Prévoyance), Yoann Richomme and Corentin Horeau (Paprec Arkéa), Italy’s Ambrogio Beccaria sails with Thomas Ruyant (Allangrande Mapei) who is bidding for a third consecutive IMOCA victory on this race , Jérémie Beyou and Morgan Lagravière (Charal), and Elodie Bonafous and Yann Eliès (Association Petits Princes – Queguiner) are all among the top podium contenders.
Once more the Class40s will have the biggest fleet on their starting line. Here too, around ten duos are widely tipped including Corentin Douguet and Axel Tréhin (Donate at SNSM.Org), Fabien Delahaye and Pierre Le Boucher (Legallais), Achille Nebout and Gildas Mahé (Amarris), and the Spaniards Pep Costa and Pablo Santurde del Arco (VSF Sports).
On Sunday, October 26th, starting from 1000hrs in the morning local time the first to leave the pontoons will be the 42 Class40s, followed by the 18 IMOCAs, the 10 Ocean Fiftys, and the 4 ULTIMs.
Four classes will be competing for four starts every quarter of an hour, starting at 2:00 p.m., giving the public time to admire the boats in the Bay of Seine before they set sail for Martinique.
Each class will follow a defined course to ensure a grouped arrival of the top finishers in each category in Fort-de-France around November 6th.
While waiting for start day the race village in Le Havre will open its doors tomorrow, Friday, October 17, until October 26, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Ten days of celebration, meetings, and inspiring exchanges, featuring free activities open to all, centered around meaningful themes: inclusion, solidarity, and protecting our planet.
The official inauguration will take place on Saturday at 10:30 a.m., in the presence of the two founders of the race: Édouard Philippe, Mayor of Le Havre, and Vincent Prolongeau, General Manager of JDE Peet's Southern Europe, alongside Hervé Morin, President of the Normandy Region.
On the eve of the village's opening to the public the sailors had the first of many busy days. Some were still docking in the this morning but all were present at the press conference this Thursday afternoon. And this was a first opportunity to catch up with the entire fleet and see how all the sailors are relishing the start and the race ahead of them.
Before the Press Conference the sailors treated themselves to a welcome coffee before meeting up at the basketball hall in Le Havre to meet the media.
The motivation within the fleet is obvious. Symbolically, in the Class40s, it was the Martinique Horizon duo, the only Martinican pair, who spoke. "It's a dream come true, we're ready," smiled Moanne Mangatalle. "We've already warned everyone so that the party will be a total blast at the finish," continued Jean-Yves Aglaé. "We're setting off full of ambition," assured Le Havre’s own Guillaume Pirouelle (Seafrigo - Sogestran) with a smile, while double Vendée Globe winner Michel Desjoyeaux (Trimcontrol) racing the Class40 his company has developed said “I can’t wait to be out there and competing with our friends and rivals."
In the IMOCAs, Ambrogio Beccaria (Allagrande Mapei Racing) was the first to speak. Having won Class40 last edition, he's holding nothing back in this new class. "It's a class with loads of talent," the Italian confides. "The fact that people are asking us if we're favorites is probably a good sign." His co-skipper, Thomas Ruyant, could win for a third consecutive time: "What matters most is that I'm convinced we have a good duo and that we can go for the win."
Britain’s Sam Goodchild is among the favourites, standing in for Vendée Globe winner Charlie Dalin skippering Macif Sante Prévoyance with Lois Berrehar as co-skipper, “Considering what Charlie has achieved and the Macif programme we go out with one aspiration. We have a good boat and a good team and are all ready to go. The next ten days are all a little bit long. We have to start making choices of what sails we will take at a few days before start day depending what the weather looks like from there.”
And Sam Davies starts her ninth TRANSAT CAFÉ L’OR, this time racing with 24 year old Vendée Globe sensation Violette Dorange, “I want to have a good race. I am really keen to find the performance I missed out on the Vendée Globe and to find a good group of boats to race with. I think there are different groups, we are not the fastest group but we go fast. I am kind of hoping it is like the 2023 race in which we can race with a group of boats in view of each other and push really hard all the way across the Atlantic. We have such a cool partnership and have had a good season so far and we have done a lot of miles. But the weather has been much too nice all year, I feel we have not really taken a reef. The previous two years have been so different and we got nailed time after time. So it feels to have done a whole season of flat water and nice conditions. I think we will pay for that at some point on this Transat and that has to be good for us. Violette has not really experienced the boat in really big conditions.”
Most have been this way before, unlike French adventurer Mathieu Blanchard, who will be teaming up with Conrad Colman (Msig Europe). His words are the same as those of all those who dream of adventure: "When I have a dream, I always want to make it come true. I came to the Vendée Globe, we did video calls with Conrad, and we clicked." The Kiwi-American Colman smiles: "It's not easy to set sail with a novice. I saw lots of dolphins, sunsets... With Mathieu, I'm going to be able to rediscover everything."
As for the OceanFifty, It's hard to tell who the favorites will be. "There's a great field," enthuses Damien Seguin, co-skipper with Thibaut Vauchel-Camus (Solidaires en Peloton). "We've been a duo for over 30 years, and it's been 25 years since we last sailed together. It's a great project with great values."
In the Ultims, Franck Cammas (SVR Lazartigue) looked like a young star. Of course, he admitted that “I have probably much more white hair than Tom bit I still have just as much fun on the water." The final word goes to the defending champion, Armel Le Cléac'h (Maxi Banque Populaire XI), who shares "We are ready but we are not the only ones in this race. We are all starting again from scratch!"
The enthusiasm surrounding the race grows from year to year. Children come to see the boats; it inspires dreams, inspires vocations, and sometimes even launches careers. Two years ago, the enthusiasm around the dock was impressive, but also it spread throughout the city. Over the years, the name of the race has certainly changed, but the quality of the dialogue between the city of Le Havre and JDE Peet’s and the spirit of the race have remained intact. It’s a race that is bigger than its founders. The sailors and the public have created an event that is bigger than us, and that’s fantastic.Mayor of Le Havre and President of Le Havre Seine Métropole
With this new name, we aim to live up to an event that grows a little more with each edition. This TRANSAT CAFÉ L'OR is becoming more international with all these skippers from all over the world, and the L'OR brand is also present on several continents. It brings this new dimension and visibility. But even if the name changes, the DNA remains. Just as the boats and the sailors are renewed with each edition, the race itself must also be renewed to shine even brighter.President and CEO of JDE Peet's Southern Europe
Supporting the race is a no-brainer for us. It's a factor in economic development. The nautical industry employs more than 1,100 people, generates $110 million in revenue, and supports dozens of businesses and artisans. Ocean racing is also a driving force in the sports industry in Normandy. Furthermore, the TRANSAT CAFÉ L'OR is a factor in tourism development. Two years ago, more than 600,000 visitors came, and we hope there will be even more this year.Regional Councilor for the Normandy region
This transatlantic race is one of the largest ocean races in the world. It offers a unique perspective on Fort-de-France and one of the most beautiful bays in the world. It also showcases the human and cultural heritage of the city and the island. The Transat Café L’Or is also a wonderful opportunity for the people of Martinique to explore their lives through sailing, ocean racing, and the sea. Together with them, we will do everything we can to ensure that the sea is a place of development, exploration, and emancipation. We are delighted to welcome the sailors of the Transat Café L’Or to participate in this great popular celebration.Mayor of Fort-de-France
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