2015 Transat Jacques Vabre – Qualifying passage

by Transat Jacques Vabre on 7 Oct 2015 Just less than three weeks before start of 12th edition of Transat Jacques Vabre, recently launched new boats and others sailing under new team colours or new combinations, these duos have to make a qualifying passage before they muster in the Paul Vatine basin on Friday, October 16th, by noon at the latest.

Six hundred to 1000 miles sailed by the duos together over a course approved by the Race Management of the Transat Jacques Vabre, this is the one final step which is imposed to ensure the race is as safe as possible before they start from Le Havre on 25th October for the 5400 miles in towards the finish line in Itajaí (Brazil).

Most of the forty-two boats entered in the four classes (Class 40, Multi50, IMOCA, Ultimate) have already completed their qualifying passage or were accepted based on their experience on their boat (Route du Rhum, the Vendée Globe or the like). And to date, 36 teams are qualified. So it is mainly the new boats which have yet to make a qualification. In view of recent good weather conditions in Western Europe these days, finding a time window should not be too difficult.

Starting their qualifications

So this is the case for Catherine Pourre and Antoine Carpentier have charge of their new Manuard, Eärendil, the Class40 built by JPS Production. In this same class, Valentin Lemarchand and Arthur Hubert (Espoir Compétition SNBSM) must also sail 1000 miles. So too Nicolas Boidevezi and Ryan Breymaier (Adopteunskipper.net) who must also complete course because even if they have already sailed IMOCA, they were not skippers. Even a top seeded duo like Jean-Pierre Dick and Fabien Delahaye-(St Michel-Virbac) must qualify on their brand new IMOCA. So it’s the case also for Thierry Bouchard and Oliver Krauss (Ciela Village) race regulars who have to qualify because they have never taken part in a Multi50 ... And also the Ultime of Yves Le Blévec and Jean-Baptiste Le Vaillant who are sailing the new Actual (formerly Sodebo).

A regatta for fun!

As soon as the race village opens in Le Havre on Saturday, October 17, action is guaranteed for the J-80 exhibition regatta in the Eure basin, which will be transformed for the occasion into a real sailing stadium. From 0900hrs in the morning eight boats will be used to whittle back the best six duos each supported by a guest of their team and a guest of the organization. From 1500hrs, the best six quartets will race five races, each time the last placed is eliminated, until the final – a head to head for the top prize!

The Transat Jacques Vabre in brief

A legendary race 22 years old and 2015 marks the 12th edition
Two founding partners : the cuty of Le Havre and brand Jacques Vabre
Four classes on the starting line: Class40, Multi50, IMOCA and Ultimate