“In October, the CIC made its intention official to join the adventure and its associations with the oldest singlehanded oceanic race by adding its name to the rich history of the event.”
07.12.2019
Historically associated with the OSTAR and The Transat, The Transat CIC is switching things up a gear to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary
Historically associated with the OSTAR and The Transat, The Transat CIC is switching things up a gear to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the creation of this first singlehanded offshore race. Sailing from Brest to Charleston, the expected fifty or so solo sailors, split into four categories, will have to do a lot of preliminary navigational work if they are to figure out the specific features of this route that spans over 3,000 miles…
Since 1960, this race has enjoyed a wealth of highlights and a variety of courses, in a format setting sail from Plymouth in England bound for New York, then Newport, Boston and then New York again…
For this 2020 edition, together with the support of a brand new title partner, the CIC, and in partnership with the city of Brest, OC Sport Pen Duick, organiser and owner of The Transat CIC, is offering a brand new version of the course setting sail from a French venue for the first time, namely Brest, and finishing in the American city of Charleston for the first time. The sailors will have to negotiate some 3,100 miles in solo format in their springtime passage across the North Atlantic, punching into the currents and the prevailing winds along the way. The scheduled start of the 2nd biggest multi-class transatlantic race in the world – after the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe – is Sunday 10 May 2020.
One man, one boat, THE OCEAN
Securing the win in the 2nd edition of the race back in 1964, Eric Tabarly, alone on Pen Duick II, made his mark in the history of French sailing and the OSTAR in particular. He repeated the feat in 1976 on Pen Duick VI, beating Alain Colas. Since then, Loïck Peyron has bettered this achievement by taking victory in the race three times (1992, 1996 and 2008). Francis Joyon took the win in 2000, Michel Desjoyeaux in 2004 and François Gabart in 2016, all of these legendary sailors flying the flag for France.
The CIC, title partner and a major protagonist in the event
In October, the CIC made its intention official to join the adventure and its associations with the oldest singlehanded oceanic race by adding its name to the rich history of the event. 60 years on from the first race, the French-based event for international sailors is now known as The Transat CIC.
In late November, the Notice of Race was unveiled, officially opening registration. Skippers of Class40s, IMOCAs, Multi50s and Ultimes are invited to take part in the event and it’s already proving popular since it will be one of the last opportunities for the participants in the Vendée Globe to do battle with the elements with just their boat for company. PRB, Arkéa Paprec, Initiatives Cœur, Banque Populaire and Maître Coq are the first to have pre-registered for the race.
An innovative journey from the city of Brest to Charleston
A port synonymous with all the records for the largest boats in offshore racing – singlehanded and crewed Round the World records – the city of Brest was also keen to become the reference venue for this unmissable offshore yacht race. In this way, the race village will switch over to American time 10 days before the start of the race.
Charleston, the finish venue and the second largest city in South Carolina, renowned for its colonial architecture, its exotic gardens and its delta where the Ashley and Cooper rivers merge, is also a strategically intriguing destination since the Gulf Stream current barely grazes it but has a significant impact on route choices over the last 500 miles of the race… Indeed, though The Transat CIC is far from a terra incognita, it will require a great deal of brainstorming to better identify the tactical points to be controlled.
About OC Sport Pen Duick
A subsidiary of the Télégramme Group, OC Sport is an international company specialised in the creation and organisation of innovative sports events. Playing a major role in the domain of outdoor sports (cycling, running and trail), the structure also boasts an historic involvement in the world of offshore racing through its subsidiary in France, OC Sport Pen Duick.
The organiser of a series of legendary events like the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe, The Transat CIC, the Solitaire du Figaro and the Transat AG2R LA MONDIALE, OC Sport Pen Duick has recently created the Hub By OC Sport. Armed with its expertise in the management of offshore racing teams (Dongfeng Race Team, winner of the last Volvo Ocean Race, a crewed round the world race with stopovers), this new structure is ideally placed to assist sailors with their sports projects.
Moreover, OC Sport Pen Duick is in charge of managing and developing the Eric Tabarly and Pen Duick brand licences.
