A separate start for each class
Each edition of the TRANSAT CAFÉ L’OR experiences the same high levels of emotion. The excitement builds to a peak a few minutes before the start for the sailors on the water and for the spectators. And that excitement should be multiplied by four on October 26 off in Le Havre/
In the early afternoon, each class will answer their start gun every 15 minutes and then follow a short coastal course. These staggered starts now offer each class better visibility on the water for visitors along the coast, as well as on the screen for television viewers. For over an hour, everyone will have a prolonged show on the water. And starting separately for the multihulls and monohulls is also a better guarantee of safety for the skippers.
4 courses, 4 winning duos
Once the starts have been given, the sailors will set off on the Atlantic, following in the historic wake of the coffee traders. They will have to deal with the unpredictable strong winds of the winter depressions of the North Atlantic before finding the trade winds.
Even with slightly shorter courses the TRANSAT CAFÉ L’OR remains the longest and most demanding transatlantic race. The gaps between the boats in the same class are expected to be small, strategic choices will have to be significant and so a constant battle all the way through the classes is on the cards. With very distinct courses for each class there are four races on at the same time with four winning duos rewarded at the end.