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Arrival in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
After the English Transat, which was due to start from Brest in May 2020 and no longer from Plymouth (in England), it's another mythical English race that is becoming somewhat more French.
Indeed, the legendary Rolex Fasnet - which owes its name to the lighthouse that serves as a bypass point for the skippers - arrived in France. On August 8, 2021, nearly 350 boats will set sail from Cowes, in the south of England, round the Fastnet, due to Ireland, and return, leaving the Scilly Isles to port. But it is in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin that they will finish the race, rather than in Plymouth.
Numerous French victories
For the anecdote, on the first edition - in 1925 - it was a French boat led by an English crew - Jolie Brise - that won. And this is not the only tricolour victory of the race. Eric Tabarly in 1967 aboard Pen Duick II, but also Catherine Chabaud on Whirpool - Europe 2 in 1999. Jean-Yves Château also won on one of the smallest boats in the race, Iromiguy, in 2003.
In recent years, the French have continued to line up victories: Pascal and Alexis Loison (father and son) won in 2013 - a first for a double crew, Gery Trentesaux two years later and Didier Gaudoux in 2017. These "blue, white, red" victories will be interrupted in 2019 with an American victory.
Numerous nautical events
Although the Channel port is used to hosting major nautical events - the Solitaire du Figaro, the Tour de France à la voile or recently the Drheam Cup - this is the first time that it will be hosting so many boats. Thus, Ultims and IMOCA will be as close as possible to the public, moored in the town centre, while the bulk of the fleet will be in Port Chantereyne, as will the Class40s and numerous monohulls of all sizes, grouped together in the IRC category.
In total, more than 300 boats from 30 to 100 feet with international crews, including renowned skippers, top level amateurs, but also family crews are expected on the starting line.
Top stars
Among the great sailors, the duo "Cammas/Caudrelier" aboard the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild will be on the start line. In 2019, they won just one minute ahead of François Gabart on Macif.
As for the IMOCA competitors, Kevin Escoffier - second in the last edition - or Charlie Dalin, winner of the 2019 Transat Jacques Vabre on Apivia will be in the running. Figaro skipper Alexis Loison will also be taking part - especially as the finish is in his home town - but in the IRC, a category in which he has already scored four victories!
