May 2, 2016 will see the start of the English Transat, a major solo sailing race founded in 1960. The current record for the monohull crossing is held by Loïck Peyron on Gitana Eighty, in 12 days, 8 hours and 45 minutes. The multihull record (60 feet) has been held since 2004 by Michel Desjoyeaux on Géant, with an incredible time of 8 days, 8 hours and 29 minutes. It had been 8 years since the oldest transatlantic race had disappeared from ocean racing.
"This is the mother race of ocean racing. To participate in it is to make history. In the life of a sailor, it's something that has allure "Yves Le Blévec, Actual's skipper, was present on Friday, December 4 at the official presentation of the event on the Nautic Stage, alongside Thomas Coville, Lalou Roucayrol, Gilles Lamiré and some of the other participants.
A race born from a bet
The Transat was born from a bet between a handful of British sailors to find out if they could cross the Atlantic solo and in how long. Among them, Sir Francis Chichester and Blondie Hasler. The concept imagined in 1960 was first criticized, mocked and considered insane. The very idea of a solo sailing race was revolutionary and almost unheard of at the time, but these men had a goal and they were determined.
Blondie Hasler looked for sponsors for the race, but in 1959, nobody was ready to support him and his crazy idea. Finally, The Observer newspaper took the plunge, and in 1960, under the direction of the Royal Western Yacht Club of England, the "Observer Single-handed Trans-Atlantic Race", otherwise known as the OSTAR, was organized.
21 enrolled in the 4 classes
The British Transat âeuros, which links Plymouth in England to New York in the United States, takes place every four years and brings together all the classes that feature in the major ocean races. 21 skippers have registered: 3 Ultimates, 5 Imoca 60s, 5 Multi50s and 8 Class40s, including two women, Miranda Merron of Britain on Campagne de France and Anna-Maria Renken of Germany on Nivea.
While at the opening of registrations last October, the organization expected more than 40 skippers on the starting line, they are half less. For comparison, the Transat Jacques Vabre 2015 had 42 entries and the Route du Rhum 2014, 91.
A Warm Up in Saint-Malo
From April 20 to 23, Saint-Malo will welcome the competitors of the Transat for a warm up, unprecedented in the history of the race. This warm-up will allow the public to meet the sailors involved, since many French sailors are involved in the event.
40 e anniversary of Tabarly's victory
Even if Francis Chichester won the first OSTAR in 40 days, 12 hours and 30 minutes, Eric Tabarly was noticed four years later, on the 2 e edition, with a record time of 27 days, 3 hours and 56 minutes. As a tribute to one of the greatest French sailors, Eric Peyron will start on Pen Duick II. But the boat does not belong to any category, it will be downgraded.
