The Armen Race is a semi-offshore race of 320 miles between La Trinité-sur-Mer and the ArMen lighthouse (Occidentale de Sein), in double-handed or crewed. This 5 e this year's edition brings together nearly 160 crews and about 500 to 600 sailors, some of whom are big names in ocean racing, but above all many passionate amateurs.
The start, which was initially scheduled for Thursday, May 14, had to be postponed due to strong winds of 30 knots, gusts to 40 knots and a very rough sea. The competitors have therefore started the ArMen Race this Friday morning at 8 am. The arrivals are scheduled for Saturday, May 16, from dawn until the evening.
Start times by category
- 8 am: Mini 6.50, IRC Double
- 8:10 am: IRC 3, IRC 4, Pogo 8.50
- 8:20 am: IRC 2, Osiris Habitable
- 8:30 a.m.: Night of the Armen (Osiris Habitable and IRC Double)
- 8:40 am: IMOCA, IRC 1, Class 40
- 8:50 a.m.: Ultime, Multi 50, Multi 30
Professionals and amateurs together in double and crew
On the starting line, we will find the Ultimate Musandam Oman Sail, which will be skippered by Roland Jourdain.
At Les Multi 50 we find the two friends, Erwan Le Roux ( Prysmian âeuros window ) and Lalou Roucayrol ( Arkema ) who are engaged in a fierce duel at each race. For the moment, it is the first one who won the first two races of the season (Grand Prix Guyader and Tour de Belle-Ile). But also Erik Nigon ( Towards a World Without AIDS ).
In Imoca paul Meilhat ( SMA ), who is competing in his first season in the 60-foot class, but will be accompanied by Michel Desjoyaux. Tanguy de Lamotte will also take part in the Armen Race on Heart Initiatives .
Five Class40s are expected to be on the starting line, including Thibaut Vauchel Camus ( Solidaires en Peloton ) who had finished 2 e in the Route du Rhum, but also Alan Roura ( Be.brussel ), Class40 rookie, who also participated in the Rhum. This will also be the number of Multi30s including the legendary Acapella-Soreal (sistership of Mike Birch's trimaran, winner of the very first Route du Rhum, in 1978, a few seconds ahead of Michel Malinowski) led by Charlie Capelle.
2 Mini will be on the race, including the Arkema quentin Vlamynck (from Lalou Roucayrol's team). Finally, we will be able to count on the Pogo 8.50 fleet, the OH fleet (21 OH ArMen) and the IRC fleet (46 crewed IRC, 24 double-handed IRC).
Three courses instead of the two initially planned
This year, a new course, "La Nuit de l'ArMen" has been created for all those who only wish to spend one night at sea. It will also welcome the slower boats. While two courses were initially planned, the "ArMen" and the "Nuit de l'Armen", three courses were finally defined as follows:
- A long of 320 miles (600 km) for the fastest boats, the Mod 70 Musandam Oman Sail skippered by Roland Jourdain, the three Multi 50 ( WindowAeuros Prysmian by Erwan Le Roux, Arkema of Lalou Roucayrol, A world without AIDS by Eric Nigon) and the two Imoca boats ( SMA of Paul Meilhat and Heart Initiative by Tanguy de Lamotte);
- A court of 216 miles (400 km) for Multi 30, Class40, IRC 1, 2, 3 and double-handed and OH ArMen.
These two fleets will go to the Occidentale de Sein, the first ones will go down then to the island of Yeu before going up towards the Trinité-sur-mer, while the second ones will return directly towards the Trinitain port.
- The third path is the one of " The night of the ArMen "Initially dedicated to racers who only wanted to spend one night at sea, it will finally gather all the slowest boats of the fleet (IRC 4, Mini and Pogo 8.50). These 45 competitors will sail around a course marker in Les Glénan before going back down via Belle Ile and the south of Houat and Hoedic.
