After an eventful Atlantic crossing, the skippers of the Cap Martinique have been welcomed in dribs and drabs since May 5, 2024, by the warmth of Martinique and the enthusiasm of the families, enthusiasts and curious onlookers who have come to greet them at the Étang Z'abricots harbor in Fort-de-France.
Amaury Dumortier and Geoffrey Thiriez's Figaro 2, 1st over the line
After 21 days 13 hours 41 minutes and 59 seconds of sailing, punctuated by fluctuating wind conditions, the first competitors in the Cap Martinique finally arrived at the Étang Z'abricots harbor in Fort-de-France on Saturday May 4 at 10:41 pm (local time). For the duo Amaury Dumortier and Geoffrey Thiriez-Terre d'Enfant sur Atlantique, from Lille, it was an emotional moment to cast off.
Winners of the real-time rankings aboard their Figaro 2, they were applauded by a crowd on the harbor, buoyed by enthusiasm despite the late hour. The moment was also an opportunity to give them a taste of one of Martinique's famous traditional rums.
Although they have sailed little together and have never crossed the Atlantic before, these two skippers share a common passion for sailing and have taken up the challenge with determination to give their all in this race. '' This crossing is a bit like experiencing the color of things you see in magazines amaury shares with a frank smile, alongside his colleague Geoffrey.
Terre d'Enfants was founded in 2001 by Sébastien Dumortier, the skipper's brother, following a trip to Nepal where he met young Nepalese eager to contribute to their country's development. Terre d'Enfants's mission is to promote access to, and the continuity of, education for all children, regardless of gender, ethnicity, caste or physical condition.
JPK 10.30 wins the compensated race
First in compensated time, the Rochelais duo Gérard Quenot and Bertrand Daniels on Blue skies Ose, a JPK 10.30, crossed the finish line of the Cap-Martinique on Sunday May 5, 2024 at 4:16 am (local time), after 20 days 19 hours and 16 minutes of racing.
'' The two bearded men with the blue boat they proudly wear the colors of the Neurofibromatoses et Recklinghausen association, which fights against neurofibromatoses, rare genetic diseases. The association's watchword is: OSE!
The finish will then be grouped in Fort-de-France this Sunday, May 5, 2024, as around ten boats completed the race during the day.
Double for Ludovic Gérard
After a double-handed victory in the 1st edition, Ludovic Gérard did it again single-handed in 2024. The gamble paid off aboard his JPK 10.80 Solenn for Pure Ocean, with the skipper taking the honors at the finish and victory in real time after 21 days, 14 hours 15 minutes and 8 seconds of racing.
However, as the sailor from Marseilles conceded, he should leave victory in compensated time to Régis Vian on his JPK 10.10 : "I managed to put a few hours on them, but I don't think that's enough to win on corrected time. Well done to them and to Régis (Vian). There was a lot of competition all the time.
The Etang Z'Abricots marina, just 15 minutes from Fort-de-France, has pulled out all the stops to welcome the Cap-Martinique. Since May 4, the transatlantic race's finishing village has been offering a wide range of activities for the general public. Visitors can take advantage of guided tours, accompanied by lecturers, to discover the heritage and identity of Martinique. From May 8 to 10, they will have the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities, from 4pm to 9pm, including nautical excursions and the discovery of the secrets behind the manufacture of Martinique's yawls. The marquee for families will close on May 12, by which time almost all the boats should have arrived.
