On 8th of November 2009, the Transat Jacques Vabre in double will start from Le Havre, as usual, to end at Puerto Limon, in Costa Rica (Brazil was the previous destination); a new Transat is born in the Caribbean Sea.
The race will gather the IMOCA 60' monohulls and 50' multihulls (14 pairs for the 60' monohull category versus 7 for the 50' multihulls) and there will be only one start for each group (30 minutes between both).
For the first time, there will not be any 60' multihulls taking part in the Transat. As regards the 40' category, there were many competitors engaged in the new "United Chocolate Race" starting on October 18th (transatlantic race for boats between mini 6,50 class and 60' Imoca).
The famous TBS sailors who got the 1st and 2nd place at the VENDEE GLOBE CHALLENGE will take part into this new Transat edition ... Michel Desjoyeaux (1st place at the VENDEE GLOBE CHALLENGE 2000-01/2008-09) as a titleholder (he already won it in 2007) will join with Jérémie Beyou to try to get a second feat on the 60' FONCIA monohull. As both of them sailed and won the race around Europa (the Istanbul Europa Race) even quite recently, they are self-confident.
As regards Armel Le Cléac'h (he finished 2nd at the latest VENDEE GLOBE CHALLENGE), he will sail with Nicolas Troussel on the 60' BRIT AIR monohull, taking part in the Transat Jacques Vabre for the second time.
We wish them good luck!