10/26/2007
The Transat Jacques Vabre is opening its doors
Just like the Route du Rhum - la Banque Postale last year, the Transat Jacques Vabre is the highlight of the the 2007 season for ocean racing yachts. The City of Le Havre, the event’s historic partner, has done its utmost to welcome the 60 two-handed crews. The village, located alongside the Paul Vatine Basin, was inaugurated this evening by Mr. Antoine Rufenacht, the Mayor of Le Havre. Tomorrow (Saturday), the fight will begin with the prologue being held for the monohulls. The multihulls will make their appearance on Sunday on a similar course in the Seine Bay.
The competitors had until noon on Friday to make their way into the Paul Vatine Basin, named after the late skipper from Le Havre, who disappeared during this event in 1999. Getting here was no mean feat for the crews, who had to deal with a biting north easterly, gusting above 25 knots. The wind was however much calmer on Thursday evening when the 60-foot Pindar, skippered by the British yachtsman, Brian Thompson and the Australian, Will Oxley, broke her mast just ten miles from the harbour entrance. This brand new boat, the widest and therefore the most extreme in the whole IMOCA fleet, had already suffered a dismasting three months back, and will now not be joining in the fun here. On the other hand, it was with a large smile on his face that Loïck Peyron, the monohull winner of the last edition, moored up his Gitana Eighty, another brand new boat. «It was close hauled sailing all the way. We’ve been through better deliveries, but we were nevertheless able to check out a few details, which needed to be looked at. Tomorrow, the crew of Gitana XI will be coming aboard for the prologue, as well as a large part of our technical team. It should be a lot of fun.» The weather forecast has announced a nice southwesterly flow of around ten knots on a flat calm sea, as the wind will be coming off the shore. It promises therefore to be quite a show, even if the sun does not come out.
Throughout the night and during the day today, Friday, the boats made their way through the gates into the heart of the village. While there are several late arrivals, most of the troops are however present for the pleasure of the spectators, who are starting to turn out in force. This village, including 130 exhibitors over an area of around 7000 m², is getting ready to receive more than 200,000 visitors before the start, which is planned for the weekend of the 3rd and 4th of November. «We have kept the starts separate, explained Jean Maurel, the race director. On Saturday the monohulls, or in other words 47 boats, which represents a great starting line, and on Sunday the 13 multihulls. The change in comparison to previous editions is that from now on, everyone will be following exactly the same course, which involves heading directly for Salvador da Bahia.» There is no longer any detour via Ascension Island for the Orma multihulls. «So much the better, admitted Pascal Bidégorry, who is hoping for a repeat success at the helm of Banque Populaire. That part of the course that we had to face upwind was hell for our boats.» Like the 120 sailors taking part in this eighth edition, Pascal is dreaming of a long slide down to Brazil. The weather will decide whether that happens. It is still too early to see what they will be up against. We will know in a few days time…
Events schedule for Le Havre on Saturday 27th October 2007
Late opening until 10 p.m.
10h The monohulls make their way out of the harbour for the Prologue
11h The media go aboard for the monohull Prologue
Meeting place: the marina
11h The monohulls parade off the beach, then pass in front of Sainte-Adresse
14h Start of the Transat Jacques Vabre Laguna Trophy Prologue for the monohulls. Course off Cape Hève
17h The monohulls return to Le Havre harbour
17h to midnight Free concert with the Koolcast brass band Gang, Subcotton, Chocola and Estrada at the Docks Pavilion
City of Le Havre Stand – Coffee Docks
19h Prize ceremony for the prologue at the Renault centre for the monohulls
From 27th October to 2nd November, outside:
The Berimbo de Ouro School is putting on Brazilian dance, music and singing shows, as well as classes in capoeira and the making of a berimbau.
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