Azimut 2016 Challenge, dress rehearsal before the Vendée Globe

The 6th edition of the Azimuth Challenge will take place from 23rd to 25th September 2016, taking on board 20 skippers for the occasion, including 16 from the next Vendée Globe. A final training session before the big start on 6th November.

Chloé Torterat Published on September 23, 2016

The Défi Azimut, the Imoca's annual event, returns to Lorient La Base from 23 to 25 September 2016 for its 6th edition ^e edition. With the start close to the Vendée Globe, this race has a special significance for the many skippers expected, as they will be competing one last time on the water before their single-handed round the world voyage.

"This 2016 edition will have a bit of a Vendée Globe prologue feel to it, a real dress rehearsal with a start, and lots of night manoeuvres. It's an opportunity to rack up some precious miles in the race, which we don't want to miss" confirms Armel Le Cléac'h (Banque Populaire VIII), who is used to the race.

The race will kick off on Friday afternoon, September 23rd with the "24 h Azimut Imoca60", whose course is custom-designed by race director Jacques Caraës. This year, with the Vendée Globe, the skippers will be racing single-handed in the bay of Lorient. This 24-hour race allows the skippers to make the final adjustments to their boat or to score points against the competitors.

Sunday 25 September will see the kick-off of the Chrono Azimut-Imoca60 crewed race. The skippers will take on board members of their team as well as partners. If the conditions are right, everyone will be looking to beat the record of 1 hr 08 min and 10sec set last year by Vincent Riou and his men aboard PRB. He himself, winner of the Vendée Globe in 2004, will be trying to improve on his own reference time.

Ashore, a conference organised by Eurolarge on the theme of human adaptation to the power induced by the technological progress of these hi-tech machines will be held on the morning of 23 September, while the artists' collective "Dans les rues du Globe" will produce a large fresco on the return of the skippers.