One of the premier offshore races in the world, the Transat Jacques Vabre is a great race to follow for anyone with an interest in offshore and shorthanded racingThe Transat Jacques Vabre is one of the ultimate tests of short-handed racing, a double-handed dash from France that sees many of the world\u2019s top racing machines take on the North Atlantic in often brutal winter conditions. The 2021 race starts on Sunday, 7 November.
\nThe 7,500-mile Transat Jacques Vabre course
\nThe Transat Jacques Vabre is nearly 30 years old, having first run in 1993 and every two years since, though the concept of the route is far older \u2013 the race course traces the historic coffee trading routes between France and Brazil used by clipper ships in the 19th century.
\nAfter starting in Le Harve, this year the finish has shifted from South America to Martinique in the Caribbean, with a mid-Atlantic turning mark of Trindade, off Rio de Janeiro, added for the fastest Ultime trimarans bringing their race distance up to 7,500 miles.
\nMeanwhile the Ocean 50 multihulls and IMOCAs will round a mark off the Brazilian archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, in a nod to the race\u2019s historical destination, covering around 5,800 miles, and the Class 40s pass the Cape Verdes before heading to Martinque, around 4,600 miles.
\nHowever, the race is often decided in the opening miles, with the Bay of Biscay in November often delivering brutal, sometimes boat-breaking conditions.
\nHuge Transat Jacques Vabre fleet
\nThe competitors taking on this gruelling ocean sprint are a true \u2018who\u2019s who\u2019 of offshore sailing.
\nFleet sizes are massive with 22 IMOCA 60s and a massive 45 Class 40s. Add in seven Multi 50s and an incredible five giant 100ft Ultime trimarans, and there are 158 of the world\u2019s best sailors taking part.<\/p>\n
Incredible IMOCA line-up
\nHot favourites in the IMOCA fleet will be current TJV trophy holders Charlie Dalin aboard Apivia, this time racing with Paul Meilhat \u2013 Apivia is very much the boat to beat in the IMOCA fleet at the moment.
\nThomas Ruyant and Morgan Lagravi\u00e8re are also serious contenders in LinkedOut, whilst J\u00e9r\u00e9mie Beyou and Christopher Pratt in Charal will be looking to avenge Charal\u2019s disappointing Vend\u00e9e Globe.
\nVend\u00e9e Globe winner Yannick Bestaven races Maitre Coq, while fellow Vend\u00e9e hero Louis Burton is competing in his new Bureau Vallee II. Seb Josse joins Nicholas Troussel aboard Corum, while Sebastien Simon races with Yann Elies on Arkea Paprec.
\nOne of two boats racing for 11th Hour Racing, the newest IMOCA in the fleet is the recently launched M\u0101lama skippered by Charlie Enright and Pascal Bid\u00e9gorry, making its competitive debut from Le Harve.
\nUltim record-breakers
\nThe Ultim trimarans represent the fastest and most advanced foiling offshore designs ever created, and an astonishing fleet of five will be racing in this month\u2019s Transat Jacques Vabre, all looking to blast across the Atlantic at speeds approaching 40-knot averages.
\nThe newly launched Banque Populaire XI
\nThe all-conquering Gitana entry of Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, skippered by Franck Cammas and Charles Cauderlier, will be looking to continue their winning streak.
\nFran\u00e7ois Gabart\u2019s SVR-Lazartigue
\nBut the competition is unreal: former Vend\u00e9e winner Armel Le Cl\u00e9ac\u2019h teams up with Kevin Escoffier in his new Banque Populaire XI, while the fastest man to sail around the world, Fran\u00e7ois Gabart, will be racing his brand new SVR-Lazartigue with Tom Laperche.
\nThey face the more tried-and-tested designs of Sodebo, skippered by round the world record breaker Thomas Coville, and Yves Le Blevec\u2019s Actual Ultim 3.
\nThis fleet is the most high octane, knife-edge class in ocean racing today, and will be sure to deliver a breath-taking spectacle.
\nStrong British contenders
\nThough some key British IMOCA skippers are sitting this year\u2019s TJV out (including Pip Hare, who\u2019s getting her new Medallia up to speed, and Alex Thomson, who recently announced he won\u2019t be competing in this Vend\u00e9e cycle) there are still many strong British contenders.
\nBritish sailor Sam Davies. Photo: Yann Riou
\nSam Davies is sailing one of the last major races in her current Initiatives Couer, this time with Nico Lunven, before she steps up to a new Sam Manuard foiler next year. A good result for Sam after two tough Vend\u00e9es would be enormously popular on both sides of the Channel.
\nFormer Volvo Ocean Race sailor Simon Fisher, sailing with Justine Mettreaux aboard the 11th Hour Racing entry Alaka\u2019I (a former Hugo Boss design), is likely to put in a strong showing, having proved the strength of their partnership with a 3rd this year\u2019s Rolex Fastnet Race.
\nIn the Multi 50s, Sam Goodchild is skippering Leyton after a strong debut season in the class.
\nMeanwhile in the enormous Class 40 fleet the vastly experienced sailor and yacht designer Merfyn Owen steps back onto the helm of Polka Dot. He races aound the world record sailor Brian Thompson, who\u2019s teamed up with fellow Brit Alister Richardson on Tquila.
\nHow to follow the Transat Jacques Vabre
\nFollow latest race developments, including the live tracker, at https:\/\/www.transatjacquesvabre.org\/en<\/p>\n
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One of the premier offshore races in the world, the Transat Jacques Vabre is a great race to follow for anyone with an interest in offshore and shorthanded racingThe Transat Jacques Vabre is one of the ultimate tests of short-handed … <\/p>\n