The 15th edition of The Transat CIC, due to start on Sunday 28 April from Lorient La Base, kicked off on the water this Tuesday afternoon with the parades of IMOCA and Class40 boats around the island of Groix. The magnificent show put on by the competitors in the mild conditions allowed many spectators to admire the boats. At the end of the day, the Start Village will be inaugurated at the Lorient submarine base, in the presence of the race's private and institutional partners.
Highlights of this press release:
Class40 and IMOCA boats parade around the island of Groix
The Transat CIC Start Village was inaugurated on Tuesday at Lorient La Base
It will be open to the general public every day until Sunday 28 April
A wide range of free activities will be on offer
A fine parade around the island of Groix for the IMOCA boats and Class40s
They left the pontoons at the end of the morning, offering a first glimpse of the ballet that will take place on Sunday morning before the start of The Transat CIC. Despite the mild temperatures, the blue skies were enough to put a smile on anyone's face. A number of guests took their places aboard the boats to experience the unique sensations of the IMOCA Open 60s and Class 40s. They then set off on a prestigious parade, with breathtaking images that the general public were able to admire throughout the afternoon. Before 6 p.m., everyone will be back at Lorient La Base, where the fastest boats will be honoured on stage.
© Alexis Courcoux
The Transat CIC Village Départ will be inaugurated this Tuesday
The Start Village of the 15th edition of The Transat CIC will be inaugurated this Tuesday at 6pm in the presence of, among others, Mireille Haby, Managing Director of CIC Ouest; Fabrice Loher, Mayor of Lorient and President of Lorient Agglomération; Delphine Alexandre, Vice-President of Health, Water and Distribution for the Brittany Region; Edouard Coudurier, President of Groupe Télégramme and Joseph Bizard, Managing Director of OC Sport Pen Duick. After the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony, all the race's private and institutional partners will stroll through The Transat CIC Start Village before taking to the stage to make speeches. This will officially launch the festivities which will be taking place in Lorient La Base until Sunday. And there will be something to suit all tastes and all ages, to ensure that the start of The Transat CIC is a great sporting and popular event, with a friendly atmosphere.
© Alexis Courcoux
In their own words : Mireille Haby, Managing Director of CIC Ouest : "CIC is proud to be a partner of The Transat CIC and to welcome all ocean racing enthusiasts to the opening of the village at Lorient La Base. This village perfectly reflects the values of CIC, a company with a mission, by highlighting its strong commitments: support for the regions, decarbonisation of transport with a focus on sailing transport, not forgetting support for all entrepreneurs. Starting with the 48 skippers taking part in this difficult route, to whom we wish fair winds !"
Fabrice Loher, Mayor of Lorient and President of Lorient Agglomération : "By hosting the start of The Transat CIC, our aim is to associate the region with a major ocean race. It has the historical legitimacy to do so, when you think back to the double-handed Transat in the 1980s, which saw the participation of such sailing greats as Éric Tabarly, Marc Pajot, Florence Arthaud, Philippe Poupon and Bruno Peyron, and the Volvo Ocean Race won in 2012 by Franck Cammas, a skipper from the region. But above all, it has the technical and economic legitimacy to do so, with the exceptional infrastructures of the ocean racing centre and the presence of the biggest teams at Lorient La Base".
Loïg Chesnais-Girard, President of the Brittany Region: "A monument of solo ocean racing, The Transat CIC has been marked by the exploits of some exceptional sailors - particularly from Brittany - who, over the years, have helped to forge its legend. It is therefore with great pride that the Brittany Region, as the main partner, is associated with the event starting from Lorient. Beyond its sporting, popular and festive nature, this event, hosted at the heart of Bretagne Sailing Valley®, is an opportunity to highlight the economic ecosystem of competitive sailing in Brittany. This industry, which innovates in a number of sectors, is a formidable laboratory for exploring the more environmentally-friendly forms of mobility of the future. With the support of the Brittany Region, those involved in competitive sailing are making a commitment and playing a major role in accelerating the ecological transition by mobilising their capacity for innovation, particularly in the development of propulsion technologies for sailing vessels".
Joseph Bizard, Directeur Général d'OC Sport Pen Duick : « L’inauguration du Village Départ de la 15e édition de The Transat CIC marque le coup d’envoi des festivités, qui animeront Lorient La Base pendant six jours. Cela permettra de mettre en lumière le nouveau port d’attache de la course, où de nombreuses écuries de course au large ont élu domicile. Nous sommes heureux d’organiser le départ de la course en Région Bretagne et plus particulièrement ici à Lorient La Base, et de faire un clin d’œil à l’histoire. Les bateaux sont en effet amarrés devant la Cité de la Voile Éric Tabarly, non loin des Pen Duick. C’est émouvant car les 48 concurrents s’élanceront dimanche sur une transatlantique remportée par Éric Tabarly, dont les victoires en 1964 et en 1976 ont largement contribué à la démocratisation de la voile, sport qui nous passionne tant aujourd’hui. Les superbes images des bateaux faisant le tour de l’île de Groix cet après-midi laissent augurer d’un magnifique départ dimanche, quand ils s’élanceront vers New York. Nous avons déjà hâte et attendons les visiteurs nombreux sur le Village de la course. »
