Transat AG2R La Mondiale: Instructions for use

The start of the 14th edition of the Transat AG2R La Mondiale will be given this Sunday 22nd April from the bay of Port-La-Foret, well known to ocean racers for its Finistère Ocean Racing Centre. With a departure from Concarneau, the 19 pairs will have to make their way to Saint-Barthélémy (in the French West Indies) after a transatlantic race. A race of nearly 4,000 miles in double-handed configuration, on one-design yachts, the Figaro Bénéteau II.

Chloé Torterat Published on April 20, 2018

What format?

The Transat AG2R La Mondiale is a double-handed race (uniform or mixed pairs) which is run on one-design Figaro Bénéteau II boats. In fact, this will be the last edition raced aboard this boat, soon to be replaced by the Figaro Bénéteau III, equipped with foils.

Organised every two years, the first edition was held in 1992 and registered 16 participations. It was won by Michel Desjoyeaux and Jacques Caraes (now director of major sailing races such as the Vendée Globe, the Route du Rhum, etc.). Once again in 1994, the race made headlines with the historic victory of Roland Jourdain and Jean le Cam just 63 seconds ahead of another pair of shockers: Bertrand De Broc/Marc Guillemot.

The race is now part of the French Elite Ocean Racing Championship and is presented as the 2 ^e the most important race in terms of its coefficient.

It was the first one-design transatlantic race followed from start to finish by a media boat equipped with live feeds, and the first organisation to equip the entire fleet of competitors with means of sending broadcast images.

What course?

The duos entered in the Transat AG2R La Mondiale are due to sail from Concarneau (Finistère) to Saint-Barthélémy (French West Indies), a 3,890-mile course. The start is given from the bay of Port-La-Forêt, they will cross the start line before heading for the two clearing buoys located in front of Cape Coz, to follow the coastline and look for the entrance channel to the port of Concarneau.

They will then have to cross the Bay of Biscay - whose reputation is well known - to reach La Palma (mark of passage) which they will have to leave to starboard. This freedom will allow them to choose their trajectory (direct route or southern route) before crossing the Atlantic towards the French West Indies.

The duets should reach their destination about 3 weeks later.

A solidarity deckchair

In 2018, the Transat AG2R La Mondiale carries the values of solidarity and diversity. First with the Challenge Handivoile (3 ^e edition), which was held on the first opening weekend of the Transat departure village (April 14 and 15). The skippers sailed in duo with sailors with disabilities, enabling them to promote diversity in the sport and share their common passion, sailing.

On this 14 ^e edition, solidarity will also be at its height with a fund-raising event in the race village for the reconstruction of the Saint-Barthélemy sailing club, which was destroyed after Hurricane Irma in September 2017. The Group, with the support of all the skippers involved this year and with the backing of all the Transat partners, will launch a solidarity operation during the race on its Facebook page and on its website.

The Performance Trophy is a prize that will be awarded each day, throughout the race, to the crew that will have covered the most miles per 24-hour period. At the end of the race, AG2R LA MONDIALE will reward the first three crews who will have, cumulatively, won the most daily trophies. The tandems will be offered 10,000 euros for the winner, 5?000 euros for the second and 3?000 euros for the third. If the winners are tied, the prizes will be shared equally.

A must for the big names in sailing

Over the past 26 years, the Transat AG2R La Mondiale has seen the passage of many generations of sailors, particularly those who have left their mark on the history of sailing, such as Michel Desjoyeaux, Philippe Poupon, Florence Arthaud, Jean Le Cam, Roland Jourdain, Armel le Cléac'h, Franck Cammas, Pascal Bidégorry, Lionel Lemonchois, Vincent Riou, Jeremie Beyou, Kito de Pavant and Charles Caudrelier.

In total, there are 8 Route du Rhum winners, 5 Vendée Globe winners and 30 Solitaire du Figaro winners who have made their mark in the double-handed one-design transatlantic race.