Jacques Vabre / Imoca podium decided

After seasoned campaigners, Jean-Pierre Dick and Yann Eliès arrived in Salvador de Bahia yesterday evening (Saturday) to win the 13th edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre in record time – and with Dick claiming an unprecedented fourth title – the podium places were completed today (Sunday) by the next generation duos on SMA and Des Voiles et Vous!

Crédit : JM Liot

Ultime / Sodebo Ultim’ wins Transat Jacques Vabre in record time as Doldrums come alive

Having match raced each other down the Atlantic after leaving Le Havre last Sunday, Thomas Colville and Jean-Luc Nélias struck a blow for experience by holding off Sébastien Josse and Thomas Rouxel on their newly-launched Maxi Edmond de Rothschild to win the 13th edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre.

Crédit : JM Liot (More pics, here)

Coville and Josse heading for record-breaking photo finish in Salvador de Bahia tomorrow

After 4,350 miles descending the Atlantic from Le Havre to Salvador de Bahia, the 13th edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre could come down to a photo finish between the older warhorse, Sodebo Ultim’, and the young stallion, Maxi Edmond de Rothschild.

Crédit : JL Nelias

Sharp start to Transat Jacques Vabre, Sam Davies shows international camaraderie of the fleet

A pumped up Phil Sharp and Pablo Santurde (Imerys Clean Energy) – the Anglo-Spanish pair – were first across the line in the Class40 as the 13th edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre 2017 started at 13:35 (French time) from its home in Le Havre, in Normandy, France today (Sunday). Beautiful light but lively weather greeted the fleet of 37 boats and 74 crew.

Crédit : JM Liot

Fahad Al Hasni joins the Transat Jacques Vabre fleet with Sidney Gavignet

Oman Sail Class 40 co-skippers Fahad Al Hasni and Sidney Gavignet are among the crews now gathered in Le Havre as the clock ticks down to the November 5th start of the classic Transat Jacques Vabre race.

Credit : V Curutchet

Class40 / Sidney Gavignet and Fahad Al Hasni in the Transat Jacques Vabre transatlantic race

Gavignet and Al Hasni will take on some of the world's best shorthanded sailors in an ambitious programme that – all going well – will culminate in the Transat Jaques Vabre transatlantic race in November.

Crédit : Lloyd Images

The new campaign is the latest stage of the relationship between Al Hasni, one of Oman's most promising sailors, and Gavignet, his mentor for the past six years.

Transat Jacques Vabre / Riou Double Le Roux Treble

Celebratory magnums of Moet champagne and potent local Caiprinhas were in evidence on the winners’ dock as Itajaí welcomed, in short order, the winners of the Multi 50 Class and the white hot IMOCA monohull class, but the key, respective skippers were also toasted for their own personal triple and double triumphs on the biennial Transat Jacques Vabre race, which retraces the coffee route from Le Havre to Brazil.

Credit : JM Liot

Jacques Vabre / François Gabart and Pascal Bidegorry, Kings in the Land of the Giants

When MACIF finished first in Match of the Giants, as the first Ultime to finish the Transat Jacques Vabre two handed Transatlantic race from Le Havre to Itajaí, Brasil, co-skipper Gabart completed ocean racing’s Triple Crown, adding the Transat Jacques Vabre title to Route du Rhum and Vendée Globe wins. He becomes only the second sailor after Michel Desjoyeaux to collect all three titles.

IMOCA / "We are delighted to have Hugo Boss back on the dock"

British sailor Alex Thomson and his co-skipper Guillermo Altadill are looking towards the 2016 Vendee Globe after an extraordinary sequence of events ended their participation in the Transat Jacques Vabre this weekend. 

Credit : Alex Thomson Racing

Jacques Vabre / Alex Thomson and Guillermo Altadill rescued by Spanish Coastguard

Alex Thomson and Guillermo Altadill, skippers of yacht HUGO BOSS in the Transat Jacques Vabre set off their emergency beacon this afternoon at 13.25UT. 

Credit : Lloyd Images

The Spanish Coastguard was informed and sent a rescue helicopter to their location 82 nautical miles from the Spanish coast. Both Alex and Guillermo were rescued from the location by helicopter and are on their way back to land.

Transat Jacques Vabre / “Our strategy? Don’t break the boat.” Said Alex Thomson

Even if the statutory autumnal Atlantic low and the customary biennial bashing in the Bay of Biscay awaits the 42 teams of two which will race to Brasil, a relatively gradual, gentle start to the 12th edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre appears to be on the cards Sunday lunchtime.

Crédit : O Blanchet / TJV2015

Transat Jacques Vabre / Giancarlo Pedote back to cross the ocean onboard FenetréA Prysmian

Giancarlo Pedote back to cross the ocean onboard FenêtréA-Prysmian Multi50 alongside Erwan Le Roux, in the longest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean: the Transat Jacques Vabre. After a season that saw them winners of Grand Prix Guyader, Armen Race, the Grand Prix Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the trophy Prince de Bretagne Sud Goëlo, Giancarlo Pedote and Erwan Le Roux will depart Sunday 25 October at 13.30 for the Transat Jacques Vabre, classic double transatlantic from Le Havre, in Normandy, to Itajai in Brazil.

© Martin Keruzoré-Team Fenêtréa-Prysmian

Jacques Vabre / Favourites, Underdogs and Uncertainty

Look back to the pre-start period of the last edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre, the two handed Transatlantic race from Le Havre to Brazil two years ago, and there were clear favourites in most classes. But, as the sages constantly remind us, ocean racing is a mechanical sport which is entirely reliant on what the weather and sea conditions deliver. And so there may be pre-race race favourites but there is no such thing as a certainty.

#TJV2013 / IMOCA Leader MACIF Dismasted, François Gabart second time unlucky

Whilst leading the IMOCA Open 60 Class of the Transat Jacques Vabre two handed race from Le Harvre to Itajai, Brasil MACIF was dismasted around 0000hrs UTC on Wednesday (into Thursday) night whilst sailing some 140 miles from Salvador de Bahia, Brazil. 

Credit : françois Gabart / Macif

French co-skippers Francois Gabart and Michel Desjoyeaux immediately informed Race Direction. Both sailors are reported to be safe and sound and have secured the boat by cutting away the rig. They are headiing towards Salvador de Bahia. 

#TJV2013 / Edmond de Rothschild first to Itajai ! [the 5 acts]

The seventy foot MOD70 trimaran Edmond de Rothschild, sailed by French duo Sebastien Josse and Charles Caudrelier broke the finish line of the 5450 miles Transat Jacques Vabre race this afternoon at 15hrs 03mins 57s local time (17h 03m 57h UTC GMT) to take overall line honours and win the MOD70 class.

credit : JM liot / TJV / DPPI

ITW / Oman Air-Musandam gains overnight on MOD70 rival in Transat Jacques Vabre match race to Brasil

“We gained overnight, but not enough before Gitana reached more breeze ahead of us and we haven’t been able to make any more ground on them since then,” said co skipper Damian Foxall (IRL), this morning. “But the race is far from over yet – we still have a number of challenges before the finish with the approach to Rio de Janeiro and Cape Frio to negotiate.”

Credit : D Foxall / Oman Air

Transat Jacques Vabre / Portuguese Pit Stop for François Gabart et Michel Desjoyeaux

Leaders of the IMOCA fleet in the Transat Jacques Vabre double handed race from Le Havre MACIF, sailed by Vendée Globe winners François Gabart and Michel Desjoyeaux, were making a technical pit stop in Peniche, 87 kms NW of Lisbon, Portugal this afternoon after damage to their starboard rudder was discovered last night.

credit : Macif

Transat Jacques Vabre / Damage to Multi 50 Maitre Jacques, heading for La Coruna

The Multi 50 Maitre Jacques which was challenging for the lead of the Multi 50 class of the Transat Jacques Vabre double handed race from Le Havre to Itajaí, Brasil is making for La Coruna, NW Spain after the two co-skippers Loïc Fequet and Loïc Escoffier suddenly realised they had sustained damage to the front of their trimaran’s starboard float.

Credit : Maitre Jacques

Transat / Start of the Transat Jacques Vabre set for 1300hrs Thursday off Le Havre

At a skippers briefing at 1500hrs local time today race direction confirmed that the start of the 11th edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre from Le Havre to Itajaí, Brazil will be at 1300hrs (local time) on Thursday, November 7, for Class40, Multi50, IMOCA and MOD70.

credit : JM Liot / DPPI | More pics, here & also here

MOD70 / Focus sharpens for Oman Air-Musandam sailors as Transat Jacques Vabre prologue approaches

With just three days to go to the start of the 11th edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre on Sunday, Oman Air-Musandam co skippers Sidney Gavignet (FRA) and Damian Foxall (IRL) are keen to get going!

Credit : Lloyd Images

“The atmosphere in the Transat Jacques Vabre village has been incredible all week, thousands of people have come out to look at the boats and visit our “Discover Oman” tent and there will be even more people over the weekend,” said skipper Sidney Gavignet who has paired up with an old friend and rival in Ireland’s greatest offshore sailor, Damian Foxall, for this edition of the great French classic.