To cope with this influx of boats on the water, the Maritime Prefecture has defined restricted areas to be respected between 12pm and 5pm on the day of departure (Decree No 2018/115).
3 restricted areas
The water body will be divided into 3 distinct zones. In the centre, the area reserved for racing boats to allow them to start without too many genes. The second one to the south of this area (just in front of the port) is reserved for pleasure craft. Finally, the area to the north must see only passenger ships sailing.
The Starting Zone
This area in the centre, also called the red zone, is reserved for racing boats and vessels accredited by the organizer. It defines a corridor that includes the starting line and runs to Cap Fréhel. In addition to the sailing boats that start, there will be team boats and organisation boats. Banning other boats in this area is a good thing, especially given the large number of participants in this edition (122 boats on the same starting line!).
This is a strictly reserved area:
- to competitors,
- to the competitors' semi-rigid assistance (until 13h30 on November 2nd)
- to ships in charge of the police and the sécurité? of the water body
- to the referees' boats,
- boats accredited by the race management
The area authorized for pleasure craft
This is the green zone, south of the line. Pleasure craft will have to be confined to this area. To avoid accidents, only motorized boats will be allowed to navigate there. The text also stipulates that this area "is exclusively authorised for pleasure craft registered in the sea and operating exclusively with an engine" What about sailboats that sail with the engine, but with the help of their mainsail? A priori, this option is not allowed... A decision that does not go in the direction of safety and which raises questions among local boaters. Especially since the area is bordered to the south by a poorly paved coast.
The area for passenger ships
Today, it is the area of all debates. Indeed, the north of the line is reserved for passenger vessels. Paid boats chartered by sponsors or offering tickets to visitors. This is where the problem lies, because boaters do not want to miss the show because they do not pay. But on the other hand, the organisation and the prefecture cannot ensure safety if small boats are sailing in the middle of the ferries.
