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inauguration

A village which creates dreams of distant shores the taste of Martinique, and the sunshine

Village départ Le Havre  |  18 October 2025 - 15h45
When the gates were opened this morning and the extensive TRANSAT CAFÉ L’OR village was officially inaugurated the welcoming weather was more Martinique than Normandy. As the holidays started the mood was one of a great escape, a chance to dream of the Caribbean and – for the adventurous minded – a chance to share the Transatlantic odyssey which lies ahead.

A TASTE OF MARTINIQUE

Usually, people meet on a terrace or on a street corner for a coffee. For ten days, the most delicious of gatherings takes place in the heart of the TRANSAT CAFÉ L’OR village. Here, the aromas of coffee mixes with the smell of the ocean, sails rub shoulders with cups, and the sea becomes the most beautiful setting for sharing a friendly moment before the big start.

As a nod to the future Martinique had exported a few rays of sunshine across the Atlantic for the inauguration of the village. At 10 a.m., Edouard Philippe, the mayor of Le Havre, and Vincent Prolongeau, president of the TRANSAT CAFE L'OR Le Havre Normandie association and general manager of JDE Peet's Southern Europe, cut the ribbon together, officially launching the festivities. "This race has changed its name, but it hasn't changed its soul!" declared the mayor of Le Havre. "The TRANSAT CAFE L'OR is a wonderful race; today it is being born a second time with this new name. Long live our transatlantic race," added Vincent Prolongeau.

inauguration

A race which writes its own history

Alongside the two founders, Auguste Boeuf, Regional Councilor for the Normandy Region, Bénédicte Di Geronimo, President of the Martinique Tourism Committee, and Didier Laguerre, Mayor of Fort-de-France, all three were keen to highlight how this legendary race rekindles many memories each year and continues to write its own history.

A STAR IS MISSED

The 74 boats are now the centre of attention. Moored in the Eure basin, the ULTIMs continue to fascinate. A little further on, among the IMOCAs, memories of the last Vendée Globe still hang in the air, with a fond thought for Charlie Dalin, who was notably absent from this edition. “This year, there's something missing,” confides local race fan Paul, “or rather, someone. Charlie our local hero, the one we come to cheer on with pride. We hope he'll be back on the water soon, because Le Havre without Charlie is a bit like a transatlantic race without wind.”

Across the bay, among the Class40s, the atmosphere is busy with boat tours, autograph sessions, and smiles galore. The colorful hulls tell a thousand stories, often about social responsibility issues. “I think it's great that causes like the SNSM (National Maritime Safety Service) or Lou Gehrig's disease are being highlighted,” notes Pascaline. “The skippers give them visibility, and it allows us to discover some of them.”

Skipper avec enfants

A kind of magic

And at the powerful Ocean Fifty, the magic still works. Admiring glances fall on the sailors who master these racing machines. Brigitte, admiring the boat of Anne-Claire Le Berre and Elodie-Jane Mettraux (Up Wind by Merconcept, Ocean Fifty), remembers herself a few years ago when the race still included only a few women. “When I came, there were one or two boats with women on board, but today they're starting to take over!”

A VILLAGE WITH THE SCENT OF DISTANT SHORES

After so many wonderful encounters, it's time for treats and fun activities. In the main pavilion, a captivating exhibition pays tribute to the unique architecture of Le Havre and celebrates the 20th anniversary of the UNESCO World Heritage Site registration of the city center built by Auguste Perret.

A little further on, with the sweet aroma of coffee in your nostrils, the Café l'OR space reminds is the Café Route finishes on Caribbean soil with a tasting. At the Coderum booth, the change of scenery continues, this time with a virtual reality tour of several distilleries that transports you to Martinique. Martinique, which has taken center stage in the neighboring booth, features several of the island's artisans and music that will make every visitor zouk.

Finally, to help you recover from all these emotions, numerous food trucks showcase Norman and Creole cuisine. And in the evening, curled up in a deckchair at Hector's, the sunset reflects the masts of the boats patiently waiting in the dock to hoist their sails and set off next Sunday.

Sunset