"Lorient - New York: the course and notice of race for The Transat CIC 2024 unveiled"
20.07.2023
Notice of race unveiled
The route of the 2024 edition of The Transat CIC, which will start on 28 April 2024, is now known. The 15th edition of the former "Transat Anglaise" will set off from the Brittany region, and more specifically from Lorient, the capital of ocean racing, before heading for New York, the iconic city on the east coast of the United States. On the menu: a demanding 3,000-mile course across the North Atlantic between the continents of Europe and North America. OC Sport Pen Duick, which has been at the helm of the oldest single-handed ocean race since 2012, today officially published the Notice of Race detailing the rules for taking part in the event.
SEE THE NOTICE OF RACE
A man, a boat, the ocean
From Sir Francis Chichester to François Gabart, not forgetting Eric Tabarly, Alain Colas, Philippe Poupon, Michel Desjoyeaux, Loïck Peyron and Francis Joyon, the greatest sailors have distinguished themselves on the North Atlantic over the decades and added their names to the prize list of The Transat CIC. The 2024 edition of this true monument to ocean racing will also celebrate the 60th anniversary of Éric Tabarly's victory aboard Pen-Duick II, which marked the history of the race as well as that of French sailing. While Tabarly did the double by winning again in 1976, this time on Pen-Duick VI, Loïck Peyron, who won in 1992, 1996 and 2008, holds the record for the most wins.
A demanding North Atlantic course
A demanding course across the North Atlantic against currents and prevailing winds between the European and North American continents, with a single-handed start every four years in the spring: the strong markers of The Transat CIC have not changed since its creation in 1960, but the mother of all single-handed ocean races has changed starting and finishing ports several times. While its departure from Plymouth for many years earned it its nickname of "Transat Anglaise", over the years it has set course for several North American cities: New York, Newport and Boston. For the 2024 edition, OC Sport Pen Duick, with the support of CIC, Title Partner and major player in the event, the Brittany Region and Lorient Agglomération, its two Main Partners, will be offering an original route between two emblematic maritime cities. Committed to two editions, Lorient will host the start of the 2024 and 2028 editions. It was an obvious choice for OC Sport Pen Duick, as the city, its economic fabric and the Brittany region have been focusing on ocean racing and innovation for many years. A city of superlatives, New York, ideally located on the northeast coast of the United States, will host the finish of The Transat CIC for the 3rd time, after 1960 and 2016. "The Transat CIC is a historic race.
It's the only transatlantic race from France with such a northerly route. It's also the most complicated, because at the end of April - beginning of May, the upwind conditions can be quite difficult. This single-handed race can be tough, with conditions similar to those that sailors can encounter in the Vendée Globe. It's interesting to be back, after the Covid-19 years, with a course quite similar to its original one, which is not downwind like the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe or the Transat Jacques Vabre - Normandie Le Havre," comments Francis Le Goff, Race Director of The Transat CIC, who points out that there will be no course mark between Lorient and New York. "It's a fast race, even more of a sprint than the other races. On the historic GRIBs, an IMOCA can take around nine days to complete the course," he explains. The finish line will close on May 19, 2024 at 11:02 UTC.
Notice of Race unveiled, a fine line-up in prospect
The Transat CIC will be open to IMOCA, Class40 and Ocean Fifty classes, as well as Vintage monohulls, multihulls and cargo yachts. The latter exhibition category of cargo yachts will be unofficial, as these boats cannot be sailed single-handed.
"As part of its CSR policy and its desire to promote exceptional boats and sailors who have made ocean racing history, OC Sport Pen Duick has decided to create the Vintage Monohull and Multihull and Cargo Yacht exhibition categories," says Francis Le Goff. The number of competitors is limited to 80 boats, including 25 Class40s, 35 IMOCAs, 10 Ocean Fifties and 10 Vintage yachts. The deadline for entries is January 31, 2024.
The Notice of Race details the rules for participating in The Transat CIC, and in particular the qualification procedures. "To qualify automatically, sailors will need to have completed the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe 2022 or the Retour à la Base 2023 race, which concerns the majority of the fleet," Francis Le Goff points out. The others will have to complete a single-handed qualifying course of at least 1,200 nautical miles before March 28, 2024, or a single-handed race of at least 500 miles plus an additional qualifying course to reach 1,400 nautical miles in race configuration. It should be noted that on The Transat CIC, all navigation aids, including routing, will be authorized, except for Classes that prohibit them. One or more technical stopovers will be authorized after agreement from the Race Direction on the stopover location and the repairs to be carried out, and possibly on the equipment to be changed.
The Sailing Instructions (Sailing Instructions) will be sent to the skippers no later than April 5, 2024 and posted on The Transat CIC website in the skippers' area.
Ils ont dit :
Hervé Favre, President of OC Sport Pen Duick: "OC Sport Pen Duick, owner and organizer of the race with the support of CIC, its Title Partner, is delighted that The Transat CIC will be returning next spring. This historic and unique race will change course in 2024, but will retain its committed format and original concept that continue to make it such a success today. The choice of starting and finishing towns was an obvious one. Lorient Agglomération and the Brittany Region, the race's main partners, will host the start of the 2024 and 2028 editions of The Transat CIC, which will return to its historic port of arrival: New York. We are delighted to be able to count on the support of our partners to make this race a great success, both in sporting and popular terms."
Antoine Mermod, President of the IMOCA Class: "For the IMOCA class, The Transat CIC is an extremely important event in the 2024 season, firstly because it's the first, but also and above all because it's a single-handed race across the North Atlantic. The course, with its fast-moving series of lows and weather systems, is extremely demanding. It demands a great deal of anticipation on the part of the skippers, which is one of the great qualities they need to have when sailing these boats single-handed. In a Vendée Globe year, it's an essential first experience. We think we'll have a fleet of around 35 boats, and The Transat CIC is the penultimate qualifying race before the Vendée Globe, so there's a lot at stake for our skippers.
Cédric de Kervenoael, President of Class40: "The Transat Anglaise, which became The Transat CIC, saw the birth of ocean racing with the great Sir Francis Chichester. The likes of Tabarly, Colas, Fauconnier, Poupon, Peyron and Joyon have all left their mark on this event, whose ruggedness makes it unique and beautiful. To win The Transat CIC is to achieve a kind of transatlantic grail. In 2024, many Class40 racers will be aiming to succeed Giovanni Soldini and Thibaut Vauchel-Camus as title holders. Class40 can be proud to have this great ocean race on its calendar, giving it its letters of nobility and undoubtedly crowning its most seasoned competitors once again. So, thank you to the CIC for supporting this great and beautiful transatlantic race, which perpetuates the history of a maritime heritage to which Class40 belongs. "
