The Transat, ready to go

On May 2, the race between Plymouth and New York will open the season of solo ocean racing. For IMOCA 60s will be a good opportunity, also with the New York-Les Sables, to prepare the mother of all races: the Vendée Globe. But also for all The Transat sailors is an excellent opportunity for use DrSails adhesives and repair kits.

Photo Vincent Curutchet / DPPI / MACIF

The legendary transatlantic race returns to the calendar after a short break. Much has changed since the first edition in 1960, when Sir Francis Chichister won with his Gypsy Moth III in 40 days 12 hours 30 minutes. In the thirteen editions disputed technological evolution has been almost infinite, being clearly evident in boat’s design. The brave pioneers could not imagine that Loïck Peyron would set the current record of 12 days 8 hours  and

45 minutes in the last edition of 2008 with his trimaran Gitana Eighty.

The 27 registered will be distributed in Class 40, Multi 50, IMOCA 60 and Ultimes categories. The largest fleet will be the Class 40s with 11 entries, including three women Anna-Maria Renken (GBR), Isabelle Joschke (FRA-GER) and Miranda Merron (GBR), but also with Japanese Hiroshi Kitada, who will be the first Land of Raising Sun sailor to race a transatlantic. Multi 50 fleet will have 5 trimarans, one less than monohulls IMOCA 60, while 3 giant trimarans will seek victory in Ultimes category.

SETTLING DEBTS WITH HISTORY

Winner in three editions, Loïck Peyron returns to The Transat with the new challenge of paying tribute to Eric Tabarly. Peyron will sail the same ketch Pen Duick II that Tabarly led to victory in 1964, racing this time Out of Category.

This new edition also looks at its history, because while Plymouth has always been the port of departure, the first finish was in New York then they switched to Newport and more recently to Boston. Now again it will be ending in the Big Apple.

But at the same time The Transat has the great innovation of the warm-up leg between France and the start line in Plymouth. Thus, The Transat 2016 will raise the curtain in Saint Malo on 23 April.