Québec City, January 19, 2016
First entry for the 9th Transat Québec Saint-Malo ?
Halvard Mabire and Miranda Merron confirmed
– The 2012 winners of the Transat Québec Saint-Malo, the French/British duo Halvard Mabire and Miranda Merron, on their Class40 Campagne de France are the first confimed entry of the 2016 edition of the world-famous transatlantic race from Québec to France starting on July 10. This will be Mabire’s fourth participation to the race, that he won in 2008 and 2012, and the third appearance for his partner and co-skipper.
Copyright : Pierre Bouras
“The Transat Québec Saint-Malo is an important race from both a nautical and cultural perspective,” explains Halvard Mabire. “This transat is a unique challenge: it’s a fully-crewed race that crosses the Atlantic from West to East. In recent years the Class40 has been the most popular and the most consistent, where competition has always been always very intense. We hope that as fans of this major event, Quebecers will help showcase the Class40. On a personal level, the last two editions of the Transat Québec Saint-Malo have been pretty good for me, so I feel duty-bound to return. Year after year the level of the Class40 sailors has been steadily improving and many skippers are in with a shot of writing their names in the race's history... but I’m not just coming as a tourist, even though I always feel that we leave Québec City too quickly.” Miranda Merron says she can’t get enough of the course. “The beautiful but tricky St. Lawrence, Percé Rock, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon and the often chilly North Atlantic, they’re all so wonderful. I can’t wait to see our friends in Québec this July!”
Ongoing registration?Crews wishing to enter and experience the 9th edition of the Transat Québec Saint-Malo can register until March 31. “We are currently expecting over thirty boats on the starting line,” says Damien De Pas, race director. “We are being contacted by more sailors who are completing their registration, so by spring we will have a good idea of the number of teams participating in this year’s event.”
The Transat Québec Saint-Malo is held four years since 1984, and has always started on the line drawn between Québec City and Lévis. Competitors have just one goal: to navigate their way along the St. Lawrence River and cross the Atlantic Ocean in record time. More than thirty crews will gather in Québec City for the race 9th edition, ready for the challenge of a lifetime.
Event details and registration updates will be available over the next few months at transatquebecstmalo.com.
About the Transat Québec Saint-Malo?
The Transat Québec Saint-Malo (TQSM) is a Voile internationale Québec (VIQ) event that seeks to promote sailing and the St. Lawrence River as well as develop economic and cultural ties between Québec City and Saint-Malo. Gestev has produced the event for VIQ since 2012. Gestev is a dynamic event management company that has specialized in sports and cultural events in the Québec City area since 1992. Gestev is a certified responsible event manager (BNQ 9700-253).
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