This will be the first edition of this transatlantic race which will serve as a warm-up for the Vendée Globe. Just like the round-the-world sailing race, single-handed, non-stop and without assistance, this race will take place on downwind points of sail. In the same way, in 2014, the New York to Barcelona Race was created in preparation for the Barcelona World Race.
The 150 to 220 mile prologue (approximately 24 hours of sailing) that was scheduled to take place on May 21, 2016 between Newport and New York has been cancelled for technical reasons and to give the skippers time to recondition their boats after a tiring outward journey. The solo sailors will therefore have to reach the North Cove Marina in New York, as they finalize their preparation and no later than noon on May 26.
While they were 18 skippers engaged, there have been several withdrawals in the last few days. Ari Huusela - Flying with Finn Air (Finland), who suffered a serious head injury on The Transat Bakerly has been evacuated on a cargo ship, Stéphane Le Diraison - Energies Marines Renouvelables (France), whose boat was launched too late and Jean-François Pellet - Come in Vendée (France) who has to validate his measurement checks in view of his participation in the Vendée Globe.
What course?
The start will be from New York, NY on May 29, 2016 for a transatlantic journey from West to East. The starting line will be located in front of the North Cove Marina, on the Hudson River. Due to the size of the fleet (18 boats) and the intensity of the New York river traffic, and depending on the weather conditions, the race management may allow the skippers to take a crew member as far as the Verrazzano Bridge (a distance of 2.5 nautical miles).
Once offshore, the competitors will have to watch out for icebergs, which are moving further and further south. Thus, the race direction has for the moment defined a northern limit not to be exceeded, at 42° North. In total, the solo sailors will have to cover 3050 miles.
Who is participating?
The race is reserved for skippers of the Imoca class with a high level of experience and who meet the following conditions:
- To have participated, by being classified, since January 1st, 2011 in a single-handed ocean race of at least 2700 miles
- And/or to have participated, by being classified, since January 1st 2011 in a double-handed ocean race of at least 4000 miles on board a boat of at least 40'.
The Imoca boats will all be in Vendée Globe configuration on the New York - Vendée (Les Sables-d'Olonne).
List of registrants
Fabrice Amedeo - NEWREST MATMUT (France)
Jérémie Beyou - MAITRE COQ (France)
Conrad Colman - 100% NATURAL ENERGY (New Zealand - USA)
Tanguy de Lamotte - INITIATIVES COEUR (France)
Jean-Pierre Dick - StMICHEL-VIRBAC (France)
Yann Eliès - QUEGUINER-LEUCEMIE ESPOIR (France)
Pieter Heerema - NO WAY BACK (Netherlands)
Sébastien Josse - EDMOND DE ROTHSCHILD (France)
Morgan Lagravière - SAFRAN (France)
Armel Le Cléac'h - BANQUE POPULAIRE VIII (France)
Paul Meilhat - SMA (France)
Vincent Riou - PRB (France)
Kojiro Shiraishi - SPIRIT OF YUKOH (Japan)
Alex Thomson - HUGO BOSS (Great Britain)
What's special about it?
Positioned as a rehearsal for the Vendée Globe, the New York - Vendée Transat authorizes the skippers to take on board a Media Man. This person will not have to take part in any maneuvers on the boat and will be in charge of taking pictures before the round-the-world race next November. Only the solo sailors who will qualify for the Vendée Globe will have to sail alone.
PROGRAM OF THE NEW YORK - VENDÉE (LES SABLES)
may 17: Arrival in Newport
may 21-22: Newport-New York Prologue
may 27: Pro-am race in New York
may 29: Start of the race
june 5/6: First possible arrivals in Sables-d'Olonne
june 11: Pro-am race in Les Sables-d'Olonne/Closing night and proclamation of results
