The race
The Transat CIC - solo ocean racing at its purest. It's a challenge punctuated by a succession of lows that sweep across the North Atlantic and generate headwinds, the great feature of this race. In the beginning, the record for the crossing was around 40 days. Today, the greatest solo specialists at the helm of the fastest boats can cover the same distance in just 8 days.
THE NORTH ATLANTIC, THE HARD WAY
The Transat CIC - solo ocean racing at its purest. It's a challenge punctuated by a succession of lows that sweep across the North Atlantic and generate headwinds, the great feature of this race. In the beginning, the record for the crossing was around 40 days. Today, the greatest solo specialists at the helm of the fastest boats can cover the same distance in just 8 days.
Which means even more respect for the winners
Not just the winners. Anyone preparing to do The Transat should be applauded for their determination and courage. And yes, of course, this is one of the great races to add to your list of achievements, like the Route du Rhum and the Vendée Globe, for which The Transat is often a very good test.
And in any case, single-handed ocean racing is a difficult sport?
Exactly. All single-handed races are tough on the skipper and the boat. The Transat used to be seen as a long-distance race. Today, it's a sprint, and to win you have to push yourself and your boat to the limit. Unlike all the other east to west transatlantic races, this one doesn't offer a second half of the course downwind in warm, pleasant winds after the storms at the start. The Transat can sometimes be a dark fight from start to finish.
But we can go further north or south to avoid the worst conditions, can't we?
You can head north to try and get around the top of the lows, which are moving from west to east and generating westerly winds, i.e. headwinds. But the northerly option can prove dangerous because of the ice drifting in from the Arctic and because of the freezing fog to the south of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, which can reduce visibility to less than a quarter of a mile. And that's no fun when you're so tired you can hardly keep your eyes open. The south is another option, but it can add hundreds of miles to the route, and there's always the risk of getting stuck in light winds.
And there are other dangers, aren't there?
Ice and fog are the main threats, but you also have to keep an eye out for cargo ships and especially fishing boats, as well as the usual debris in the water and marine mammals. Some collisions can be harmful to boats and marine wildlife. There are many obstacles to contend with on The Transat route.
Is it because of the headwinds?
The route is not entirely upwind. It depends on the weather conditions at the time of the crossing. But often the skippers of The Transat find themselves facing big storms in heavy seas, sailing close-hauled for hundreds of miles, slamming into the waves to make their way westwards. The pressure on the boats and the sailors is enormous.
A historic event
The race has a special aura because it dates back to the very beginnings of single-handed ocean racing. It's where Chichester and Tabarly cut their teeth. At the time, people thought they would die trying to reach America solo, and since then, the race has offered some incredible tales of victory and failure. Today it seems more accessible, but if the weather conditions aren't right, The Transat can still be hell.
