For this 10th edition of the Transat Québec St-Malo, the year 2024 celebrates 40 years of nautical history between Quebec City and St-Malo. The oldest non-stop, crewed ocean race from west to east, a third of which takes place on river waters, it has brought together the great names in sailing and ocean racing since its creation in 1984. Held every four years, it has written a page in nautical history.
From the dream of André Langlois to the glory of Loïc Caradec
André Langlois, driven by an all-consuming passion for the sea, had been dreaming since the early 1980s of creating an extraordinary nautical race. This visionary project, inspired by the 450th anniversary of Cartier's voyage to Quebec, took shape. In collaboration with Gaston Truchon, their shared ambition gave birth to the Transat Québec Saint-Malo.
From the outset, this crossing has captured the imagination of sailors the world over. Put in the spotlight by the English transatlantic race OSTAR, which brings the racers to Newport, it attracts some fifty participants, including a dozen Canadian flags, mostly from Quebec. At the time, shipbuilders were competing in ingenuity to design ever larger and faster yachts, marking the advent of monumental multihulls, some of which exceeded 20 meters in length.
Mike Birch, surrounded by legendary sailors such as Gerry Roufs and Réjean Desgagnés, writes a new page in the history of ocean racing. Their multihull breaks records by covering 512 nautical miles in just 24 hours. The competition is of unprecedented intensity, with only four boats crossing the finish line. Loïc Caradec triumphed aboard Royale, after a crossing lasting 8 days, 19 hours and 57 minutes.
The emergence of major international names
The 2nd edition of the Transat Québec St-Malo saw 13 multihulls and 6 monohulls compete in a more sober atmosphere. In 1990, the introduction of regulations set the length of boats at 18.28 meters (60 feet). A period of stability, which stimulated the development of the race, then began for some fifteen years. The 3rd and 4th editions of the Transat were marked by the presence of big names from Europe and North America, as well as by records. A talented new generation emerges in Quebec, among whom Florence Arthaud and Pierre Felhman stand out. Arthaud became the first woman to join the leading pack, while Felhman set a new monohull record, covering the distance in 10 days and 15 hours at an average speed of 11.1 knots.
Serge Madec won the race in 7 days, 21 hours and 35 minutes aboard JetServices, a time surpassed by Loïck Peyron in 1996, who crossed the finish line in 7 days, 20 hours and 24 minutes on his trimaran Fujicolor; a record that remains unbeaten to this day.
Redefining the limits of navigation
In 2000, the quest for performance led to the design of new trimarans almost as wide as they were long. Franck Cammas, aboard Groupama, completed the race in 9 days, 23 hours and 16 minutes. Four years later, Karine Fauconnier, sailing Sergio Tacchini, became the first woman to win an ORMA crewed event, completing a remarkable course in 7 days and 21 hours, just 36 minutes off the record. In 2008, the arrival of the Class40 marked a turning point. These smaller yachts attracted investors looking for controlled performance at controlled costs. Franck-Yves Escoffier triumphed in the Multi50 'Open category with Crêpes Whaou, while Halvard Mabire, aboard Pogo Structures, dominated the Class40 category.
Class40 on the rise
In 2012, 25 competitors took the start, including 20 in Class40. This 8th edition goes down in history as Halvard Mabire once again takes victory in Class40.
Erwan Leroux, sailing a Multi 50, proved to be the fastest, completing the course in just 9 days and 14 hours.
In 2016, the race committee added new markers to direct the boats towards riverside towns such as Lévis, Rimouski, Matane, Gaspé and Percé, providing a spectacle for spectators along the coast. This 9th edition is marked by Spindrift 2's record, the simultaneous arrival of the three Multi50s and the fierce competition of the Class40s for the podium.
2024, the 40th anniversary
After an enforced pause in 2020 due to the pandemic, the start of the 10th edition of the Transat Québec St-Malo was launched on Sunday June 30, 2024 for a crossing of 2,897 nautical miles. A special moment as it celebrates 40 years of sailing and sharing between Quebec and France.
22 Class40s and 4 tall ships from the Gerry Roufs class pay tribute to Canadian ocean racing legends and Transat Québec St-Malo icons. The boats are scheduled to cross the finish line around July 13 and 14, 2024.
