andynap
Senior Insider
THE 15TH EDITION OF THE TRANSAT IS (ALMOST) LAUNCHED & by Clément MALAOUI ON 04/06/2021
Skippers, sponsors and organizers met in Rennes on March 30 to present the 15th edition of the Double Transat Concarneau-Saint Barthélemy. A race that is changing its name, which will see new generation Figaros compete for the win, but which keeps the course unchanged. Eric Peron and Miguel Danet will be there and hope to relive the same finish as in 2008. 1095 days, almost three years to the day. This is the time that will have elapsed at the start of this double-handed Transat on May 9 from the port of Concarneau, since the arrival of Thomas Rettant and Adrien Hardy in Gustavia. At the time, this Atlantic crossing was called Transat AG2R-La Mondiale. Since then, the sponsor has withdrawn, which will not revolutionize anything, sporting in any case. As for the last editions, the fleet will leave from Concarneau, to arrive at the port of Gustavia, bypassing La Palma, by the east. “Which makes a total of 3890 nautical miles (a little over 7204 km), in terms of the most optimal route,” announces Francs Le Goff, the race director. And precisely, if the course does not change, it is in order to be able to compare.
Compare the times of the last edition, the last of the Figaro II, with this first race of the third generation boats. “The record is a little over 18 days (18 days, 11 hours and 48 minutes, established by Thomas Rettant and Adrien Hardy, in 2018, editor's note), we hope that these boats do as well, explains Francis Le Goff. That's why there is this point in La Palma, to compare the performances of the two generations. For the moment, the Figaro IIIs have achieved a maximum of four nights in the race, so that will multiply this temporality at least by four, we'll see how they react. “That promises, when we know the difficulty we had for the skippers, in 2018, to overcome the very complex conditions of the Golf de Gascogne. Several abandonments were to be deplored during this terrible night off the Portuguese coast.
In any case, to handle these new machines, there will be quality skippers, the very best. “They are the best in the world in the Beneteau class,” says Pep Costa, a 22-year-old Spaniard, whose first participation will be, stars in his eyes. The winner of the Solo Maître Coq (stage race from March 19 to 28, 2021), Tom Laperche, in duo a with Loïs Berrehar, will be the favorite, like many other crews. Like Martin Le Pape: “With Yann Elies, we come to win it. "
Miguel Danet and Eric Peron hope to do as well as their third place in 2008. “This finish was great,” recalls Eric Peron. And the memory of the podium with Erwan Tabarly 2012 remains engraved. I like this race, Miguel is always up for it. This year, it was complicated to travel, but soon we will be able to make up for our preparation. "" So it was not won, but there was enthusiasm on the part of the partners for this race, rejoices Hervé Favre, president of OC Sport Pen Duick, organizer of the race. We realized this when its maintenance was still pending.
This is the first transatlantic race for the Figaro IIIs who have never crossed the Atlantic, and the field already has 17 boats. Not to mention that we may still have a few registrations. This represents 34 skippers, it is identical to a race like the Solitaire du Figaro. These ambassadors of the sea have a role to play. “You are doing good,” said the president of the Brittany region, Loïg Chesnais-Girardin, who continues: “This Transat has made names known. We need these great races. It also makes it possible to promote the territory. "Same story on the other side of the Atlantic:" We are working well here to make this event wonderful, assures Nils Dufau, president of the Saint-Barthélemy Tourism Committee. We will do it, and 2021 will be a year of celebration of sailing and freedom.
“Roll on May 9!