Please select your home edition
Edition
C-Tech 2020 Tubes 728x90 TOP

A four part course between Quebec and Saint Malo

by Kate Jennings - Expression on 19 Jul 2008
All in readiness for Transat Quebec St Malo. Photo: X Dachez ® Xavier Dachez / VIQ http://www.xdachez.com
It is an ocean race with a very special profile, which will begin on Sunday in the shade of the Abraham plains and the Frontenac castle in Quebec. A West to East race across the North Atlantic, the Transat Quebec Saint Malo provides the intrepid sailors that attempt it with a vast range of points of sail, wind and sea patterns and marine landscapes, strategic and tactical openings and beyond all that perhaps, some good ground for wonderment and contemplation…

The magical, mysterious, and formidably majestic Saint Lawrence River
An element of bravery is required in this transatlantic, the first phase of a four part waltz, the 353 mile downriver passage between the ramparts of Quebec and the town of Percé, combine a fluvial riot and some unpredictable traps. 353 miles on a direct route, a figure which bears no relation to the reality of beating between the islands, in a wind with a capricious physiognomy, which evolves to the rhythm of the river, from its more or less brutal steep-sidedness and its islands, and its more or less protected islets. 'We had to perform over 80 changes of tack in 2004' recalls Pierre Antoine (Imagine). His high performance 50 foot trimaran with the wind on the tail was forced to hunt down more efficient wind angles, and often saw itself pushed close to the banks where the shallows and currents were being dished up. The latter constituted the main difficulty of this first quarter of the race. At 1100 hours (1500 UT) on Sunday, at the point where the start is given upriver of the Vieux Quebec, the current was to push the yachts at around 3 knots! Later on, as they rounded the famous and pastoral island of Orléans, they kicked up their heels and got 4 knots of boatspeed in current alone vitually! It proved to be a great way to sprint off from the start zone. At that point though, they also had to watch out for the change in the tide. And though the river also owes its majestic nature to the beauty of the countryside it irrigates, the sailors must be careful not to let themselves be sent off to sleep with the backdrop of the beautiful wild landscape. Added to this, the river still carries along a thousand and one objects that it has picked up in the spring with its numerous tributaries. 'To hit an object is the racers’ obsession' admits Jean Edouard Criquioche (Class 40 'Esprit large') 'It is certain that as far as Percé, we won’t be able to get much sleep.'

Time for the islands
The immense Saint Lawrence estuary emerges on the second part of the course, a veritable anti-chamber prior to the open ocean and the Atlantic. After the compulsory passage marks of Rimouski at the edge of the river, 142 miles from Quebec, then the Percé (350 miles), the sailors have to leave the island of Miquelon to port and Saint Pierre to starboard. Situated 690 miles from Quebec, this original and colourful course mark will also influence a route close to Newfoundland, and a possible regrouping of the fleet. The wind will likely kick back in after Percé in a more regular fashion and the foulies will now be part and parcel of life onboard, the racers living in them until they get to the European continental shelf.

Grand banks and grand spaces…
Past the archipelago of Saint Pierre et Miquelon, the legendary route to the Grands Terre Neuvas of the past century, opens out before the racing yachts. Slipping along under Cape Race, at the southern tip of Newfoundland, the crew are in maximum surveillance mode, particularly, as is often the case, if the fog born from the thermal contrast between the continent and the ocean, is in evidence…We then hit the random phase of the race, since the most direct course towards Europe crosses a zone prone to drifting icebergs. Race management is of course particularly vigilant as to the evolution of this field of ice and reserves the possibility of positioning virtual ‘gates’ here, forcing the racers to round to the south of a dangerous zone.

Welcome to the Atlantic
Nearly 2,000 miles of Atlantic Ocean open up before the competitors from Cape Race. The classic conflict of the lows dropping down from Labrador and the Azores High will supply (or not…) the fuel for their sails needed to push the yachts towards the English Channel, Bréhat and then Saint Malo. The power of one or the other of these two phenomena will dictate the comfort and performance of the yachts, whether they receive the wind from the lows astern, or the affects of the zone of high pressure directly on their route.

Final sprint, final dangers
In the past, the Channel has sounded the death knell for the hopes of a number of pretenders to victory in Saint Malo… Marc Guillemot in 2000 and Giovanni Soldini aboard his monohull the same year, both had to swallow the bitter pill of seeing their at times considerable lead melt off the Breton coast, thanks to a final unfortunate tack dissolving any promise of victory. The competitors en route towards the Banchenou Mark just 7 miles from the finish will have to have to have conserved their freshness and lucidity in order to negotiate what is often a lazy English Channel at this time of year.

Qué bec!
The late Paul Vatine, a true Norman if there is such a thing, adored the Transat Quebec Saint Malo which he won in 1988 on Jet Services, prior to racking up two third places in 1992 and 1996. The word 'Québec' had a special significance according to his father: Before the immensity of the estuary, a Norman sailor arriving during the first voyages of exploration of the New World, was heard to exclaim 'Qué bec!' or, in his strong local dialect, 'Quelle Baie!' (What a bay). The word 'Bec' is said to have its roots in the language of the founding Vikings of the Duchy of Normandy and indeed designate a bay (reference to the towns of Caudebec, Bolbec on the banks of the Seine). This version which undoubtedly requires the caution of ad hoc experts, certainly appealed to Paulo (Vatine) in any case, a friend to the inhabitants of Quebec.

[Sorry, this content could not be displayed]

http://www.quebecsaintmalo.com/
Zhik 2024 DecemberRooster 2025Sea Sure 2025

Related Articles

18th Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona day 1
Opening victories and nautical splendor This week, Barcelona once again takes center stage in the world of classic sailing as the 18th edition of the Puig Vela Clàssica gets under way. The opening day delivered ideal conditions for a spectacular display on the water.
Posted today at 12:28 pm
Rolex Fastnet Race: IRC Two Preview
With 73 entries in IRC Two, the Rolex Fastnet Race is set to deliver a striking display. Could two new JPK 1050s upset the apple cart in IRC Two? Jean-Pierre Kelbert has a habit of breaking the mould in IRC racing, and his new 34-footer may well be a game changer in this competitive division with 73 entries.
Posted today at 10:36 am
Dragon Edinburgh Cup in Torbay overall
Tight Racing and Tactical Brilliance The final day of the 2025 Edinburgh Cup brought sunshine, shifting breeze, and two exciting races that kept the championship wide open until the very last run.
Posted today at 8:13 am
Seldén Rodkicker 50 - manual rigid vang
Specifically sized for yachts between 50 and 55 feet A Rodkicker rigid vang is designed to enhance sail handling during reefing and allows for greater sail trim control.
Posted today at 8:00 am
WASZP Games 2025: Talent & fun descend on Weymouth
Poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history The 2025 International WASZP Games, set to take place from July 19–25 at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, are poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history.
Posted today at 7:23 am
Transpac 2025 Update: Moon River Tonight!
The magic of offshore racing in the 2025 Transpac A vast ocean separates Los Angeles, California, from Honolulu, Hawaii, but the boats racing in this year's Transpac have now crossed the halfway mark. Race leaders are in the tradewinds and making their approach to the Aloha State.
Posted today at 12:26 am
20 Canadians set for Long Beach Grand Slam Event
The Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta will be held July 12-20 20 Canadian sailors will take part in the fourth and next-to-last event of the 2025 Sailing Grand Slam Series, the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta, to be held July 12-20 at one of the two Olympic venues for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Posted on 10 Jul
All smiles among first finishers of the AEGEAN 600
The fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion As the fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion and made their way to the harbour at Olympic Marine, there were exhausted smiles all around.
Posted on 10 Jul
British Classic Week day 4
It was a classic Solent day in Cowes for the OneSails inshore race It was a classic Solent day in Cowes for day 4 of British Classic Week with hot temperatures, sunshine and no breeze in the morning before the sea breeze kicked in from the west and it was time to go racing.
Posted on 10 Jul
iQFOiL Worlds a Aarhus day 5
Finalists locked in for new Medal Series format With the sea breeze stubbornly refusing to make an appearance, Day 5 of the iQFOiL World Championship turned into a long waiting game both ashore and on the water.
Posted on 10 Jul