News
TCO25_Vauban_Illustrations

HOW TO FOLLOW THE START OF THE RACE TRANSAT CAFÉ L’OR LE HAVRE NORMANDIE 2025

24 October 2025 - 15h30
The TRANSAT CAFÉ L’OR Le Havre Normandie will start this Sunday, October 26, 2025, from Le Havre, for its 17th edition. It is one of ocean racing’s classic, historic Transatlantic races and a huge event on the French sporting calendar every two years. The double-handed transatlantic race goes from Le Havre on the Channel Coast of France, to Fort-de-France (Martinique).
74 boats, 148 skippers in four classes will compete and the start can be followed live on site, online, or on social media. The boats will depart from the Bassin Paul Vatine, followed by a parade in front of the Nelson-Mandela Esplanade, before the boat exits the harbor and the official start of the races.
public village TCO25

Four classes, four starts.

The fleet will dock out from the morning from the Paul Vatine dock, in the heart of the village. The boats will then be visible from the Nelson-Mandela esplanade, before heading out of Le Havre harbor for the big start.

Each class will set off 15 minutes apart on the same line, as follows:

- ULTIM: 2:00 PM local time (1pm UTC)

- OCEAN FIFTY: 2:15 PM (1.15pm UTC)

- IMOCA: 2:30 PM (1.30 pm UTC)

- CLASS40: 2:45 PM (1.45pm UTC)

The idea of four separate starts allows for a smaller start line which is therefore more visible to the public from the shore. This also ensures greater safety for the skippers. By separating the fleets by about fifteen minutes, each class is given the spotlight during the video broadcast. This way, there will always be action on the water.
Francis Le Goff
Race Director of the TRANSAT CAFÉ L’OR Le Havre Normandie

Starting at 2 p.m., all the boats will set sail for Fort-de-France with four distinct courses: the Class40s via the Azores archipelago, the IMOCAs around the Canary Islands, the Ocean Fifty via Cape Verde, and the ULTIMs to Ascension Island.

The tracking will be live from 10 a.m. with position updates every 5 minutes until 3:30 p.m., will be available on the official website https://www.transatcafelor.org/cartographie. The first ranking will be posted online at 4 p.m local time. and updated every hour.

THE START LIVE ON THE WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA

The start of the race will be broadcast live in English. Hosted by Andi Robertson and Transat Café L’Or and Vendée Globe skipper Brian Thompson, the live stream will be available online on the website, and on the TRANSAT CAFÉ L’OR YouTube and Facebook pages.

 

FOR SPECTATORS IN LE HAVRE

Informations public

Spectators will be able to watch the skippers' farewell from 9 a.m. (the village opens), the boats' departures from 10 a.m. in the Paul Vatine Basin, then the boat parade from the stands on the Nelson Mandela Esplanade before following the passage through the harbor from several points along the coast:

  • The Paul Vatine Basin from 9 a.m.: you can stroll through the village, open from 9 a.m.; A brunch will also be organized from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. by Brasserie Hector, in the village, and will allow you to follow the race live on giant screens in a friendly atmosphere.
  • Nelson Mandela Esplanade from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Parade with live commentary. Distribution at Café L'OR. Festive atmosphere (Martinique music - DJ set)
  • Le Havre Beach from 2 p.m.: Ideal vantage point to follow the starts.

 

Also follow the event on the official social media : TRANSAT CAFÉ L’OR