18.10.2015
For the love of coffee!
Great moments on the Coffee Route History
Macif and MASCF baptised
Children first!
The Transat Jacques Vabre transat race may date back just 22 years but there is a history of the coffee route between the two cities, Le Havre and Itajaí, which goes back 500 years. In 1504 a French merchant ship L’Espoir arrived by chance in the region of Santa Caterina, not far from Itajaí. And by 1728 there was a coffee route established, a precedent which is now reflected in the Transat Jacques Vabre course.
In fact it was way back on 24th June 1503 that L’Espoir sailed from Honfleur – just a matter of a few miles west of Le Havre - first to the Cape Verdes the first leg of a long voyage into the unknown. The ship was captained by Binot Paulmier Gonneville, a cultured and adventurous man who was accompanied by the best navigators, sailors and scientists, all recruited during his careful preparation.
After months of difficult sailing to the south, along the African coast - they had slanted west initially to avoid currents and headwinds - finally on January 5, 1504, completely lost, they arrived on an unknown coast, inhabited by natives who appeared peaceful.
Unknowingly, they had arrived in Brazil which had only been discovered by the Portuguese two years earlier. And their landfall was in what is now the province of Santa Catarina, the region of the finish port of the Transat Jacques Vabre.
Black gold, green beans
The first coffee beans arrived on the docks of Le Havre in 1728. The clippers which were built in Le Havre were called "Rio swallows" (Rio Hirondelles) and were smaller and faster than the three masted traders. They could carry four hundred tons of coffee on each trip from Brazil.
Le Havre became the main importer of coffee in France. By 1875, 780,000 coffee sacks pass through Le Havre established itself as a trading stronghold. Le Havre has remained the first coffee importer of France ...
The coffee route and the 5400 miles diagonally across the Atlantic is fundamental to the history of the Transat Jacques Vabre. Le Havre and Itajai are real twin cities: 180 000 inhabitants each, and the second commercial port of their respective countries. The story continues!
Macif and MACSF Baptised.
Moderated by popular celebrity French TV and Radio presenter Alessandra Sublet who perched gamely on the trampoline, the baptism of new Ultimate Trio Macif was spectacular.
After 18 months of work, more than one hundred people contributing over 100,000 hours, the giant tri was launched on 18 August and is now ready to compete in their first race.
After 18 months of work by over one hundred people, contributing more than 100,000 hours Macif was launched on 18 August. Now is the time for its first race. François Gabart and Pascal Bidégorry set off next Sunday on the Transat Jacques Vabre. This will be the first real opportunity for Vendée Globe winner Gabart test his new machine: "I had already thought about this during the Vendée Globe. I thought of a round the world solo multihull. I am proud today because this is a big collective, team job. I have a special boat that goes fast. We went up 38 knots on our delivery to Le Havre, I'm sure we will go even faster, but the idea is high average speed over time. I want to break the solo record around world tour alone which is 57 days today (Francis Joyon on Idec in 2008, ed.) "
François Gabart also announced its collaboration with astronaut Thomas Pesquet (who comes from Le Havre) who embarks on an international space station next winter. "There are similarities, for him he is based on a spaceship that floats in the middle of the universe. He will come and sail Macif, we will share our experiences. "
MACSF: Bertrand and Marco, cousins in the same boat!
A Different atmosphere ... Against the background soundtrack of Brazilian batucada the IMOCA monohull of MACSF (branded by Isabelle Keller) moored at the special dock. Theirs is a boat that represents the medical profession: doctors of the Hôpital Foch. "I can tell you that we went to the hospital Foch last week with Marco and we are signed off, good to go on the Transat Jacques Vabre! " De Broc declared today
Between the two cousins they have a total of 13 participations in the race, four for Bertrand De Broc and nine for Marc Guillemot!”
Children First
The village of the Transat Jacques Vabre has something for kids of all ages, especially in the Kids Zone. It is an ideal Mid Term visit for holidaying youngsters from all over Europe. There are play activities overseen by the animation company or under the supervision of parents. The more adventurous can climb – safely – to the top of a tall ship mast: 10 m high where the view of the race village is fabulous. All the way through the day there are kite making workshops and the chance to build all kinds of wind driven vessels and things, not to mention the Pirate Ship.
2013 Title Defenders
Class40
GDF SUEZ
Sébastien Rogues & Fabien Delahaye
20d 21h 41min 25sec
Multi50
Fenêtréa Cardinal
Erwan Le Roux & Yann Éliès
14d 17h 40min 15sec
Imoca
PRB
Vincent Riou & Jean Le Cam
17d 00h 41min 47sec
MOD70
Edmond de Rothschild
Sébastien Josse & Charles Caudrelier
11d 05h 03min 54sec
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