Once again, several hundred crews are expected in La Trinité-sur-Mer this Pascal weekend. Will be expected on the starting line the one-design, IRC crews, double IRC, Osiris habitable or Diam 24. Two new supports will make their appearance in 2017: the Multi 2000 and the Mini 6.50 which will race double-handed.
The crews will be distributed over the four rounds, proposed by the race direction, according to their support. They will complete two types of course: built courses (single or double banana) and coastal courses in Quiberon Bay (40 miles).
New boats enter the race
After the arrival of the Diam 24s - one-design boats in the Tour de France à la voile - in 2015, new habitable multihulls will come to race in the Bay of Quiberon. They will join the fifteen other series spread over the four race rounds. The AMH (Association des Multicoques Habitables) under the Multi 2000 rule groups together catamarans and trimarans from 25 to 45 feet designed for racing and cruising and which are named Dragonfly 920, Bandit 800, TS 42 or Raider 302.
Particular attention should be paid to Acapella of Charlie Capelle, sister-ship from Olympus Photo The first winner of the first Route du Rhum in 1978 in the hands of Mike Birch.
In addition to the IRC category, the 6.50 m Mini Class and Figaro 2 now join the usual classes. We should therefore find all the favourites from the Transquadra and the Mini-Transat (which will take place in a few months time) on this 39 e edition. We will particularly follow the highly anticipated match between the JPK 10.10, Sun Fast 3200 and the latest Ofcet 32.
To be watched..
The Diam 24 will participate for the 3 e times at the Spi Ouest France and will be present in La Trinité sur mer to run one of the must-attend events on the circuit for the French championship title at the end of the season. You will have to watch out for Lorina Golfe du Morbihan (Mathieu Salomon Quentin Delapierre), who finished second on the Spi last year, but won the Tour de France à la Voile a few months later.
Ian Lipinski, winner of the last Mini Transat in series and a big favourite this year in proto, will be at the helm of Griffon, his famous David Raison design with a round bow.
Eric Brezellec and Géry Trentesaux, winners of the Spi Ouest France last year in J80 before becoming world vice-champions, are putting their title back on the line on Courrier Junior.
Gathering visitors to a village
Another new feature on this 39 e edition! To enhance the conviviality of the event, the organizers will centralize the event under a large tent. This is also the place where the registration, briefings and daily sign-offs will take place.
