For its 15th edition, the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre is injecting fresh impetus into the race, bound for Martinique! For the first time in its history, the Transat Jacques Vabre is heading out to explore the West Indies. Indeed, it’s Fort-de-France Bay, which will host the finish of the longest and most demanding double-handed transatlantic race, in what promises to be a sensational spectacle.

The historic starting point remains the same: the Bassin Paul Vatine in Le Havre. In 2021, the founding members of the race, namely the City of Le Havre and JDE group, will be assisted with the organisation of the event by the Normandy region. Today, above and beyond being a race, the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre aspires to become an event. As such, it is eager to make the most of its considerable renown and turn it to good account, to inspire, to encourage and to pass on a message.

At the forefront of these new ambitions is the desire to break new ground in terms of environmental issues. This commitment to CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) is evidenced by the fact that the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre will launch two innovative programmes: a competition (open to start-ups and students) to showcase projects promoting a reduction in our carbon footprint, together with a conference on good environmental practice.

Moreover, the fresh impetus championed by the new Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre team will be used to support the feminisation of offshore racing, by encouraging a project helmed by a female sailor, who would like to participate in her first transatlantic race. Finally, the Coffee Route 2021 version also intends to strengthen the links between real sailing and virtual racing, by officially integrating a fifth Virtual Regatta class.

This year, out on the racetrack and in all the actions carried out in relation to the race, the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre has set itself the task of enhancing performance and respecting its environment. To this end, it hopes to join together numerous skippers ready to brave the Atlantic in pairs from 7 November, the start date for the 2021 edition.

ROUTE2021

4 CLASSES ON THE WATER, 3 DIFFERENT COURSES

The race will set sail off Sainte-Adresse, to the north-west of Le Havre. One to two hours later, the fleet is expected to reach the Etretat mark, celebrated as the perfect vantage point for spectators. Indeed, the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre always kicks off with a show sequence before heading offshore.

The first section of the course involves a common-core syllabus for all the different classes. This will start with the exit from the English Channel, either by hunting down a trajectory along the English coast or skirting the Cotentin peninsula, according to the weather conditions. In the English Channel and at the north-west tip of Brittany, the skippers will have to be on their guard against the abundance of shipping.

Next up will be the negotiation of the Bay of Biscay, which can sometimes be a theatre for quite potent gales in November. Once around Cape Finisterre, the sailors will drop down the North Atlantic in a bid to hook onto the trade wind. It’s here, to the south of the Canaries, that the three courses will part ways.

The Ocean Fiftys and Imocas will both set a course towards the Brazilian archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, in a nod to the race’s historical destination. The complete circuit equates to 5,800 miles. These boats will cross the equator twice over, which translates as two passages through the doldrums, though the second, further out to the west, should be less hazardous. The Ocean Fiftys are expected to be first into Fort-de-France after 12 to 15 days at sea. Meantime, the Imocas could take 14 to 17 days.

The course adopted by the Class40s will be shorter in distance at 4,600 miles. They’ll have to leave the island of Sal to starboard, at Cape Verde, before powering eastwards to Martinique. They won’t have to negotiate the doldrums or the equator so the Class 40 circuit should be completed in 17 to 22 days.

Finally, the course for the Ultims, the fastest boats on the circuit, is inevitably the longest: 7500 miles. The designated waypoint rounding is another Brazilian archipelago, off the coast of Rio de Janeiro : Trindade and Martim Vaz. Here too, the crews must double up on their passages across the equator and through the doldrums. They are estimated to finish after 16 to 17 days.

The skipper of Bureau Vallée 2 has made the big arc round the anticyclone and remains a strong contender for the final victory. Even if Louis Burton indicated that the front was beginning to show signs of air instability. The solo sailor seemed in great shape for the final sprint after 75 days at sea!

"It's windy, but it's quite unstable. I'm beginning to feel the front coming over us as it fills in. There are around fifteen knots with squalls and soft, gusty, rotating winds since the beginning of the night. As I am the furthest north, I see the effects (of the front) first. On this last section, it went better for Apivia because he is not yet feeling the influence of the front. It should become more and more unstable, coming in until Sunday morning.

Reaching the Azores will depend on how fast the front will move, on our speed and our ability to stay ahead. Ideally, we gybe behind the front, after the islands. But if we're a little slower, we risk crossing the islands in the middle... Theoretically, the first solution should take place.

It is rare to have so many boats so close together with four days to go. It's pretty crazy because a lot can still happen! Everybody has the pressure of the finish... But I try to stay away from all that and concentrate on the end of the race. So much the better if people are betting on me now: it didn't go too badly but it's not easy at the moment! I've racked up some miles, but I'm have also hit the front first, so... It's obviously harder for me than for the other boats further south. And nothing is decided until the finish! It's very difficult to make a guess. You have to be on top of it and it's not the time to have any lie-ins...

The pace has quickened a bit and it's true that I took advantage of the trade winds and the rounding of the high to recharge, to rest, to be in shape for this finish, but I am sure I am not the only one! I have a bit in the bank, but it will be tougher to remain calm as we face the quickening tempo with manoeuvres and handling, we have not had since the Pacific.

It's going to go very fast: in 24 hours, we'll pass a front. 20 hours later, we'll gybe towards Les Sables d'Olonne... And then we're going to knit out way up as we approach Cape Finisterre on the south of the Bay of Biscay! It's not going to be a very "comfortable"... But hey, for now, it's nice here. I was expecting to get cold soon. During the day, I am still in shorts and only put my boots back on last night. If it goes on like this all the way to the end it will be good.”

This is the good news this morning! At around 3:10 am (French time), 360 miles in the north of the Crozet archipelago, Kevin Escoffier (PRB) was disembarked from Jean Le Cam's boat and was picked up by the Nivôse, a French Navy frigate. The transhipment - via a semi-rigid - went well, despite a swell formed in the area.

Jean Le Cam resumed his race. In a message to the Vendée Globe Race Direction, Frédéric Barbe, captain of the Nivôse, wrote: “Kevin is in great shape, he is going to enjoy a hot shower. We are heading for Reunion. It's a beautiful day that begin."

Work Station Indian Ocean

Over 24 hours of intense work has left the inside of Louis Burton’s IMOCA Bureau Vallée in a mess but the third placed skipper confirmed this morning that his efforts, in collaboration with his shore team, have kept him in the race. Speaking on the 0400hrs TU call this morning, after he had just gybed at the Antarctic Exclusion Zone he said, “"I'm pretty burnt out and I admit that I came close to having to abandon". True to the philosophy of many competitors Burton was not giving everything away about his problems, other than having said earlier that he had automatic pilot troubles.

After a quieter period close to the ice exclusion zone, the main 11 strong peloton in the Indian Ocean see Charlie Dalin extending his lead slightly overnight to 233 miles over Thomas Ruyant. Burton confirmed he had 30-35kts of wind and a swell 4.5 metres. Most have gybed as the new front arrived bringing north westerly winds, now on a long port gybe across the Indian Ocean passing the Kerguelen Island some time tomorrow Monday.

Some 1800 miles behind Apivia the contrast in the wind and weather is stark from the group Alan Roura, Stephane Le Diraison, Armel Tripon, Arnaud Boissières have had a very frustrating period in light winds some 120 miles from the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope, these four have made only one or two knots at times and some went full 360 degree circles.