Transat Jacques Vabre
| Founded | 1993 |
|---|---|
| Classes | Class40, IMOCA 60, Multi 50, Ultime |
| Start | Le Havre |
| Finish | Salvador de Bahia |
| Type | double-handed offshore race |
The Transat Jacques Vabre is a yachting race that follows the historic coffee trading route between France and Brazil. it is named after (and sponsored by) a French brand of coffee.
The course was drawn up back in 1993 to follow in the wake of the clippers transporting coffee from Brazil to France. The Transat Jacques Vabre is a major date on the calendar, taking place every other year in odd years. It is still a two-handed race and the pairs of sailors are formed according to their complementary skills, what they have in common and how they get on. Boats leave from Le Havre, France's leading coffee importing port, going to Salvador de Bahia, in Brazil, the world's leading coffee grower and exporter (4335 miles).
The event is open to multihulls and monohulls from the following classes: Ultims (multihulls between 70 and 105 feet), IMOCA (60 feet monohulls), Multi 50 and Class40. All kinds of navigational aids are allowed in particular for routing, except for the Class40 boats (as this is forbidden in their own rules).
The first race took place between Le Havre and Cartagena (Colombia). 13 boats were at start.
A two-handed race between Le Havre and Cartagena.
Again a two-handed race between Le Havre and Cartagena.
This year was marked by the disappearance of Paul Vatine, on board the Groupe André.
A two-handed race between Le Havre and Salvador de Bahia (Brazil). 3 categories of boats.
From this year there have been 4 categories of boats and 38 competitors.
The start was 5 November for the monohulls and 6 November for the multihulls. 4,340 miles (6,980 km) (monohulls 50 and 60 feet) or 5,190 miles (8,350 km) to do this year. 34 boats were registered:
The start was 3 November for the monohulls and 4 November for the multihulls from Le Havre. This year, 60 boats were registered.
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