TRANSAT 6.50 CHARENTE-MARITIME/BAHIA 2005

COMPLETE INFORMATION ON WWW.TRANSAT650.ORG

2005-10-13T08:10:00.000+02:00

You can find the complete information about the

TRANSAT 6,50 CHARENTE-MARITIME/BAHIA 2005

on the official website of the race :

www.transat650.org

During the race follow the skippers on the map,

learn the actuality of the race, consult the meteo...

THE D. DAY !!!!!!

2005-10-08T11:14:00.000+02:00

It is today at 5:17 pm, that is 6:17 pm French time, that the fleet of the 70 mini 6,50 will take the departure to Salvador de Bahia for the second leg of Transat 6,50 Charente-Maritime/Bahia 2005.
2 920 miles in official distance are approximately about twenty sea days for the first ones. Will they beat the record of Yannick Bestaven established in 2001 with 18 sea days, him who had benefited from good conditions of glide ? Let's see, knowing that the first days of race should be made "wind in the nose", a new situation for a departure from the Canarian Islands, this archipelago which traditionally proposes trade winds of northeast.
The fleet of the Mini 6,50 should thus leave the pontoons of the Puerto Calero Marina near 3.00 pm today. Approximately one hour will be needed before the whole fleet arrives on starting zone, knowing that the procedure of departure will be launched at 5:09 pm via the committee boat.

RANKING OF THE PROLOGUE "Mini Puerto Calero Regata"

2005-10-07T12:19:00.000+02:00

Here under the ranking of the Prologue wich has been sailed Wednesday, October 5th 2005, in front of the Marina of Puerto Calero, Lanzarote.

1 BROSSARD HARDY Adrien
2 POINT MARIAGE LE BLEVEC Yves
3 C2O VOULTOURY Pierre
4 ARMOR LUX GIADU SEBASTIEN
5 ADRENALINE METROPOLE ARC GIRAUD Clement
6 LE GALLAIS SHARP Philip
7 COMPLETE FREIGHT HOCHREUTENER Tobias
8 SET ENVIRONNEMENT DE LAMOTTE Tanguy
9 REGION NORD PAS DE CALAIS DUCROT Cyril
10 VECTEUR PLUS CLAQUIN Aloys
11 SPEEDY BONSAI CARACCI ANDREA
12 ULISSES 65 MUMBRU JAIME
13 et 1rst Série APROTEC MORZINE SOTTOVIA Bruno
14 OPEN SEA / TEAM WORK PELLA ALEX
15 WELLMENTS et 2nd Série LAUREYSSENS Peter
16 LINKERS - LUISINA GINDRE Pierre
17 et 3rd Série JULES SORIN Fabrice
18 METALCO MOBILIER URBAIN CASSANAS Matthieu
19 FDI GROUPE GALLAY Bernard
20 ASSOCIATION LAURETTE FUGAIN BOURRIE Eric
21 VILLE DE NICE DELPLACE Yann
22 WHITTLEBURY HALL BUBB NICK
23 UNE PLACE POUR CHACUN PONTU Sylvain
24 AREAS ASSURANCES LANCRY David
25 ADRIA MOBIL HAINSEK KRISTIAN
26 E. LECLERC BOUYGUES TELECOM DOUGUET Corentin
27 LPO-LIGUE PROTECTION DES OISEAUX SANNIE Mathieu
28 LOP LOP LOULIER Pierre
29 KNAUF-VENDEE LEFEBVRE David
30 CREDIT AGRICOLE SKIPPER CHALLENGE MASLARD Stanislas
31 DCF CHOMBARD DE LAWE Marine
32 TOTEM BOUDAOUD Arezki
33 ZOUKATI LAGRANGE Jean christophe
34 PULCO CROISEL Bruno
35 TCHAO BAUWENS Eric

DNF ADRIA MOBIL TOO

Pricegiving ceremony of the "Mini Puerto Calero Regata".
Mr Jose Calero, builder of the Harbour, and Adrien Hardy, winner of the prologue.

" starting in the best way for sticking on the buttocks of the boys ! "

2005-10-05T21:13:00.000+02:00

She’s 25 years old, and nothing really seems to frighten her... And if it is necessary to send the big spinnaker in the breeze as during the departure of Transat 6,50 Charente-Maritime/Bahia, Alexia BARRIER doesn’t hesitate to do it. And if the boat is tilted at its maximum, she just makes a grimace, brings up the spinnaker which trawls in the water and says to herself that it’s the last time such a thing happens ! Because this girl who comes from the match-racing (4th world in 2002) wants to crunch the oceans with her beautiful smile and her sparkling eyes.
16th at Puerto Calero and 14th in the Prototypes ranking, Alexia is only at 14 hours from the leader even if she had an out of order autopilot at the end of the second day. Nothing more to say, she’s in the match... And don’t speak to her too much in a girl language ! Any pretty she is in her Roxy clothes, Alexia indeed wants to finish this Transat 6,50 Charente-Maritime/Bahia and the 13 boys who ended in front of her during this first stage are not going to frighten her, even if " to arrive on the other side will already be a big moment ! ".
Small interview some days before the departure of her first crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, knowing that she has already programmed to do the way back to France from Brazil after the next Transat Jacques Vabre on the 60 feet “Roxy”. Two transats in three months, here is what is called to marry the oceans !

Did this first stage teach you things ?
It has me cured of the fear of sailing with the big spinnaker with many wind and I am no more afraid of broaching ! I always knew that I have a solid boat and this first stage confirmed it to me. I didn’t broke anything but my autopilot, which gave up after two days. I had to collapse my spinnaker to go to sleep a little, we can see it looking at my track... I finally well managed my boat and I arrived not too badly placed. As a result, I am more confident and I will be able to go stronger on the second leg and to stick on the buttocks of the boys ! (lol)
16th in the scratch, it’s rather not bad !
I always knew that the boat has a lot of potential even if I was little on the limit this year… it was a little hard... It is moreover thanks to Philippe ( Monnet) that I was able to have more budget from Roxy, what helped me well. Besides, a lot of persons came to La Rochelle to help me at the last moment, what allowed me to concentrate me on the weather report and to leave straightaway...Are you afraid from this second stage?
I am satisfied to restart but I’m also in a hurry to arrive to Brazil. It will be my first crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. I have sailed from the Azores to Marseille already, but I never done a long navigation like that... The first stage was rather simple because we had meteorological files which informed us up to the end. There it is not the same for the second leg and I think that those who already made it have a small advantage.
By the way, concerning the meteo, how do you work?
I worked with Pierre Lasnier (well-known meteorologist and recognized router in the world of the sailing race) on the first stage and we shall make a point on the second stage in the morning of the departure. Working seriously the weather reports removes many fears...

Some stress before the start ?
I have no pressure neither from my sponsors, nor from the persons who surround me... I shall do my best and everybody knows it. Now, if I do not succeed, I know that they will not blame me for it. But I know that I am able to do it... I thought of arriving about 25 at the first stage because the last two days I was really tired. I went a little bit slowly but in fact everybody was in the same mood... Finally I kept my position !

The solitude does not frighten you ?
If ever I feel melancholic, I say to myself that I have to arrive as quickly as possible. If you are not in a good feeling, it has to be as short as possible. Then I make everything to go faster and so I’m always well. I also say to myself that everybody feels the similar. In the first stage, I heard that everybody grumbled... so I said to myself that we are all the same in fact !

Apart your autopilot, did you broke something during the first leg ?
No, I broke nothing... My philosophy is to pay attention on the boat more than on me, and so sometime I forget to eat or to sleep ! There, I was obliged to collapse the spinnaker from 4 to 7 hours and I slept. In fact, I noticed an electric problem between my autopilot and my electronic weather vane. But normally, everything is repaired now and I‘m waiting for a new GPS today.

Why did you come to the solo race ?
The crew was hard to manage and I wanted to do some solo sailing. I always dreamed while hearing about Bourgnon, about Florence ( Arthaud) and I always wanted to do it too ! On the other hand, the fact of having done match-racing before teaches a lot because you are broached every 3 seconds. You multiply the operations and you always push the other one to the fault. As a result, the operations in Mini are easier… except the spinnaker in the breeze ! (Smile). But, it is promised, I shall not put it any more in the water !

Departure of the second leg at 5:17 pm on Saturday, October 8th

2005-10-04T20:51:00.000+02:00

It is said : the start of the second stage towards Salvador de Bahia will be given at 5:17 pm, local time.
A departure without any buoy to turn for the 70 competitors still on race, straight down on the way to the archipelago of Cape Verde distant from 900 miles.It is thus at 5:17 pm (that is 6:17 pm French time), that the 70 Minis 6,50 participating to Transat 6,50 Charente-Maritime/Bahia will take the departure of Lanzarote towards Salvador de Bahia. A direct departure in front of Marina of Puerto Calero towards Cape Verde islands, which will thus be lived with the conditions of wind at the time of the departure. No systematic up wind start, but maybe a down wind start or a reaching one considering the most common conditions here in the Canarian Islands. The procedure of departure will be launched at 5:09 pm, 8 minutes before the gun bang.

Among the important precision to notice : the starting line will stay opened 30 minutes and the total time of authorized stopover will be of 72 hours, as on the first stage. The competitors will leave with compulsory 100 litres of water on board, the whole material having been controlled by the official measuring president.

The course presented by the Race Direction will be as follows : starting line, passage through a door located in Cape Verde bounded by the island of Santo Antao to leave on starboard (right-hand side) and the island of Maio to leave on port (left). Fernando do Noronha’s archipelago is to be left on starboard. Let us remind that the route will be 2 900 miles and that the ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) we can hope for a crossing of the Atlantic Ocean is about 18 days, so we expect an arrival in the state of Bahia October 25th or 26th 2005.

24 years separate them...

2005-10-04T17:29:00.000+02:00

If the oldest Mini 6,50 registered on this race was born in 1981, the youngest is from the year. 24 years separate them, without speaking about the sum of technologies which differentiates them. Winner of two Mini-Transats, the one of 1981 and the one of 1987, the number 19 is in the hands of Nicolas Charmet, whereas the proto born in 2005 under the number 551 is under Bernard Gallay's command.

Number 19 on the hull and in the mainsail, “La Ligue contre le Cancer” belonging to Nicolas Charmet is the oldest boat of this Transat 6,50 Charente-Maritime/Bahia 2005. Born in 1981 under by the pencil of the architect Jean Berret, this prototype of the 80’s is certainly not comparable to the Minis from the new generation in matter of speed, but it is a confirmed, sure and healthy boat. For proof, it already won two Mini-Transats, first in the hands of Jacques Peignon and then in the ones of Gilles Chiorri. " It is a old boat declares the holder of the Trophy Jules Verne on Orange I in 2002. It has a rich history... When it signed its first victory in 1981 in Jacques Peignon's hands - an adventurer - it was at the conclusion of a particularly difficult race. The race still left England at this time. It was marked also sadly by the death of a competitor. It is a healthy and well-balanced boat. I remember that when I made the Mini-Transat, we had a lot of down wind, and this proto showed itself particularly stable and reliable in these speeds. I am particularly happy to know that this boat is going to navigate again, and in good conditions. I know that it was restored, but it will always wear with him a history, the one of the Mini."
Some figures concerning the crossings and the victories of this boat: Jacques Peignon's crossing, winner in 1981 was : 32 days, 20 hours and 22 minutes in the average speed of 5,18 knots on the course Penzance/Tenerife/Antigua. Gilles Chiorri's crossing, winner in 1987, was made in 30 days 06 hours and 41 minutes in the average speed of 5,52 knots on the course Concarneau/Tenerife/Fort de France.

In contrast, there is the “FDI Group” of Bernard Gallay (who participated twice to the Vendee Globe), which was built in March 2005. This plan Manuard (number 551) is the most recent Mini 6,50 of the fleet of 72 participants in Transat 6,50 Charente-Maritime/Bahia 2005. They are two boats to have been born in 2005, the other one belonging to David Lancry's (Aréas Assurances – FRA 454) from a Dejeanty’s plan. Bernard Gallay's boat possesses number of technological innovations. A wing rotary mast in carbon high module, the tube - as we say - weighs 28 kg nude for completely equipped 32 kg. A true record with Aloys Claquin's mast (Vector Plus) which weighs less than 30 kilos ! The rigging is of course in PBO and we find under the water two carbon rudders, a swing keel falling over of 35 degrees with regard to the axis. The bulb is situated two metres under the water and weighs 360 kilos. Two asymmetric daggerboards in carbon are placed in front of the mast, without forgetting naturally two ballasts of 150 liters each to assure power in up-wind and reaching. The bowsprit measures 3,50 metres length, in carbon of course. In other words Bernard has the means to make speak about him !!
Is this second stage going to reveal all the potential of this boat ? To follow... knowing that the ocean experience of the sailor should completely express herself from Saturday.

Race against the clock...

2005-10-01T17:20:00.000+02:00

Everyone has is own race in this Transat 6,50 Charente-Maritime/Bahia : adventure of a life for some, first level of the offshore race towards a professional world for the others, race against the others and against the clock for all. Because, whoever we are, we always look at the classification to watch the upstairs neighbour... Small look on the rankings.

Maybe you did not click the right button, but in the classification you find the ranking for Series Boats and Protos further to this first leg. We remind that in the general classification, the winner in each of the categories of this Transat 6.50 will be the one who will realize least time to cross the global course, with the time accumulated on both stages. So, what do we notice after this first 1 300 mile section ?

Concerning Series boats, besides the Peter Laureyssens's (Wellments) magnificent victory in 7 days 03 hours and 48 minutes in the average speed of 7,6 knots, it is necessary to see that Sylvain Pontu (Une Place pour Chacun) is only in 44 minutes and 35 seconds behind. Less than one hour between first and the second. The third is Eric Bauwens (Retina France) at 4 hours 56 minutes and 10 seconds. Times which, on the scale of what waits for skippers : a crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, are only a droplet in this ocean. The last one, Jean-Christophe Lagrange on Zoukati is in 2 days 14 hours of the leader.
Concerning Prototypes boats, Corentin Douguet (E. Leclerc-Bouygues Telecom) gone through 1300 miles in the crazy average speed of more than 8 knots. A very fast route which will enter the annals of the race... Sebastien Gladu ( Armor Lux) is only at 1 hour and 15 minutes behind and Yves Le Blevec (Point Mariage) is at 3 hours from the leader. Yves who is surfing on the Canarian waves in Famara at the moment to change his mind… The first foreigner is Phil Sharp (Le Gallais). He is at 5 hours and 16 minutes from the winner of the competition. A Phil who already begins to look at the weather report and at the winds charts... Motivated guy ! They are 8 skippers to be within ten hours of delay, Tanguy de Lamotte (Set Environment pour Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque) being at 10 hours and 30 seconds from the leader.

Other interesting info : they are 25 to be less than one day from the winner : Nicolas Marchand (IUT de Nimes en Septimanie) being at 11 hours and 33 minutes from Corentin. The last one in Proto category, Nicolas Charmet arrived yesterday on the oldest boat of the fleet (Ligue contre le Cancer), spent 6 days and 3 hours more that the winner, what is almost the double of time to go from Charente-Maritime to Puerto Calero. It is necessary to say that Nicolas made one stop in Cascaïs to repair...

The pontoons atmosphere in Puerto Calero

2005-09-30T17:02:00.000+02:00

The life gets organized to Puerto-Calero ( Lanzarote).
Everybody goes of his/her small daily way of life there, knowing that the total priority is to recondition the boat before starting again next wide Saturday, October 8th.

Each has his own activity and everybody is working hard on pontoons to recondition and fix everything.
We empty boats, we change stays and ropes, we dive under hulls, we verify appendixes, we wait for parcel from France (sails, accastillages etc...) and friends of some arrive with luggage loaded with pulleys and other items...
Others already have prepared boats and only the supply will be to embark at the last moment. So they can study the map of the island to find spots of surfing or funboard or to see where to catch the ferry to go on Fuerteventura, the island placed next to Lanzarote, with its known and very well-known spotlights of windsurf as Corralejo or Sotavento. For the most curious, direction Graciosa with a great spot of surfing tendency high level and a little bit secret...

Diving in the marina for Juan-Carlos Sanchis Mari (ESP403 - Spasmos),
in order to check the hull...

Cleaning of the boat for Nicolas Marchand (FRA432 - IUT de Nimes en Septimanie),

Fixing of the ropes in front of Pépito (FRA80) for Frédéric Roux

Michel Goyat repairs his main sail (FRA318 - Groupe Infodis)

Address of the Race Office in Lanzarote

2005-09-30T16:48:00.000+02:00

The reception desk in Puerto-Caléro / Lanzarote is open from September 25th to October 9th.
Tél : +34 928 849 564 Fax : +34 928 513 122

You can send letters in Lanzarote at the following address :
Oficina TRANSAT 6.50
SKIPPER's NAME + SAIL's NUMBER
Edif. Antiguo Varadero
Planta Alta
Urbanizacion Puerto Calero
35571 MACHER LANZAROTE / ISLAS CANARIAS / SPAIN

We disadvise you to send parcels, they sure will arrive after the departure of the skippers for the second leg of the race...

THEY ARE ALL THERE !

2005-09-30T16:43:00.000+02:00

Nicolas Charmet (19) arrived at Puerto Calero at 11:19 am today local time. All the boats are thus at destination and we registered two abandons on this first stage for reason of broken mast : Cian Mac Carthy (393) in the first night of race, and David Le Carrou (498) later.

They are 70 to be moored in the marina of Puerto Calero this Friday, September 30th. Nicolas Charmet (Ligue contre le Cancer) arrived at the end of morning at 11:19 am - that is 12:19 am French time. His race duration was 12 days 19 hours and 02 minutes and 30 seconds and he arrived 6 days 03 hours and 17 minutes after the first one, Corentin Douguet (E. Leclerc-Bouygues Telecom).

During this first leg, we registered two abandons. The one of Cian Mac Carthy (The Tom Crean) and the one of David Le Carrou (Tréport - Tirard and Burgaud). Both broke their mast and if David had broken his mast in the first floor of spreader, Cian had had to release his whole mast, keeping only the boom on board.

Let us remind that the departure of the next leg, which will bring the 70 skippers on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean towards Salvador de Bahia, is scheduled, on Saturday, October 8th.

The ADRIA MOBIL team

2005-09-05T13:15:00.000+02:00

They will be two skippers from SLOVENIA to participate to the Transat 6,50 Charente-Maritime/Bahia in 2005.
Slovenia is a land situated in the East of Europa, which proposes only 25 kilometers of coast on the Adriatic Sea.

Kristian HANJSEK (509 - on the right) and Andraz MIHELIN (510 - on the left) will participate to the race onboard two similare boats, two prototypes designed by Samuel Manuard (french boat architect). The plans and the hulls were built in France, and the rest of the boats was built in Slovenia with a local team.
They prepare that race since two years, participated to numerous qualification races in France, and are today ready for their first transatlantic. We remind that that competition is a singlehanded race, without any assistance neither way of communication.

They are not the first sailors from Slovenia to participate to that race. Jure-Sierk was one of the skippers who participated to the first Transat in 77, when it was called "Mini-Transat". Il gave up before the arrival, but went back a second time in 85 and finished the race. And one time again in doublehanded in 97.

ADRIA MOBIL follows the skippers since the beginning of their project. This Slovenian company sells Mobilhomes all over Europe, and associates its name to the two boats in race. You can learn more about it on : www.4ocean.si

A new partner for Peter Laureyssens

2005-09-03T18:32:00.000+02:00

Peter Laureyssens, the only skipper who will represent Belgium in Transat 6.50 Charente-Mariteme / Bahia on 2005, has just signed a contract with a new sponsor : his Mini "Base Camp" becomes now WELLMENTS.
Wellments is a subsidiary of Ecover, and on the occasion of the departure of the race September 17th, skipper of 60 feet open ECOVER Mike Golding (3 ° of Vendee Globe 2004) and its boat will be present in the Bassin des Chalutiers in La Rochelle.

Information additional on : www.ecover-sailing.com or www.plyachtracing.com

The following boats of Transat 6,50 Charente-Maritime/Bahia 2005

2005-09-01T11:45:00.000+02:00

The following boats which will accompany the 72 competitors from Fort Boyard (France) to Salvador de Bahia (Brazil) are a part integral of the organization of the race.

They’ll be 7 that year to follow the skippers participating to Transat 6,50 Charente-Maritime/Bahia.
Five boats will accompany the competitors all the way long from Fort Boyard to Salvador de Bahia :
* JACKY DE BELON, 13,75m Cotre Mano – capt’ain Patrick Morvan,
* EDULIS, 12m Bongo – capt’ain Eric Corazza,
* NOTRE DAME DES FLOTS, 20m old traditional boat – capt’ain Jean-Pierre Despres,
* LA DAME DU VEILLON, 12m Pogo – capt’ain Alain Delord,
* GWALARN V, 12m Pogo – capt’ain Michel Mirabel

One boat will accompany the first leg of the race from Fort Boyard to Puerto-Calero/Lanzarote :
* GRAIN DE SABLE, 11,40m Puma – capt’ain Stéphane BROSSARD and Sylvanie DUMAS,
which will be relieved for the second leg from Lanzarote to Salvador de Bahia by :
* PARATI, 12,30m Océanis – capt’ain Bernard MICHEL.

These boats are arranged throughout the fleet by the Race Director so as to be able to turn away from their course and intervene quickly with a competitor in trouble.
They are also very important for the skippers good way of mind. Let us remind that the 72 competitors of the race doesn’t have any means of communication, no telephone, no iridium etc..... They can just communicate between them by VHF -only if they are in the perimeter of reach of their equipment-, and companying boats being scattered so as to cover the area of the race, the minisailors can thus have an otherwise regular at least occasional contact with the Organization.
Companying boats are in daily relation with the Race Director, and allow to give to the competitors the useful information, the classifications Series and Proto, the day weather report and the forecasts, but also to collect the feelings, the comments and the anecdotes of skippers for transmission to the Internet users.

Aboard every following boat there will be a minimum of three persons, one of them will be in charge of the daily radio vacations.
We also note that among the crew embarked on these boats there will be some members of the families of the competitors, as for example Pascal the father of Marine Chombart de Lauwe (FRA 481 ), Eliane the girlfriend of Patrice Fisseux ( FRA 75 ), Sarah the girlfriend of Cyril Ducrot ( FRA 260 ) and Cecile the girlfriend of Adam Currier (USA 176 ).

How to contact skippers before the race

2005-08-31T10:49:00.000+02:00

You wish to send a letter or a parcel to a skipper participating in Transat 6,50 Charente-Maritime / Bahia 2005 before the departure of the race ?
Send your sendings to :

TRANSAT 6,50 2005
NAME OF THE SKIPPER + NUMBER OF THE BOAT
LE GRAND PAVOIS
avenue du Lazaret
17042 LA ROCHELLE CEDEX 1 - FRANCE

Parcel and letters will be given to skippers until September 17th, think of taking sending in advance !

You can also send them a fax to +33 546 44 61 72 from September 8th till 17th 2005, or send them an e-mail through the official Internet site www.transat650.org (link on every presentation of the competitors).

New sponsors for some racers !!

2005-08-30T11:48:00.000+02:00

Many skippers are always looking for a budget, and some of them found !
We have to notice some modifications about the race names of the following boat :
- FRA 432 / Nicolas Marchand becomes IUT DE NIMES EN SEPTIMANIE
- FRA 231 / Nicolas Bunoust becomes GROUPE SCE
- FRA 346 / Clément Giraud becomes ADRENALINE - METROPOLE ARC
- FRA 427 / Sébastien Gladu becomes ARMOR LUX
- FRA 306 / Louis Duc becomes ROYER
- FRA 392 / Ludovic Mariotti becomes KHIPLUS
- FRA 495 / Jean-Christophe Courtel becomes SAFI - Société d'Aménagement du Finistère
- FRA 318 / Michel Goyat becomes GROUPE INFODIS
- FRA 312 / Matthieu Cassanas becomes METALCO MOBILIER URBAIN
- FRA 276 / Isabelle Joschke becomes DEGREMONT
- FRA 321 / Pierre Gindre becomes LINKERS
- BEL 438 / Peter Laureyssens becomes WELLMENTS

Information for skippers - Environmental Protection

2005-08-30T11:46:00.000+02:00

The Harbour office of the Port of La Rochelle informs us about two important decisions, in touch with the environmental protection and the limitation of water on the department of Charente-Maritime.

1/ CAREENAGE OF BOATS
According to a recent french ministerial decree, it is formally forbidden to rub the hull of any boat covered of antifouling, whether it is in ports, marinas or in the ocean, this to avoid spreading in the sea water of the particles of antifouling susceptible to pollute the water.
Think of preparing and cleaning the hull of your Mini before going into the "bassin des chalutiers", careenages and cleanings of hulls are only authorized on the ground, in equipped zones (technical area for example).

2/ LIMITATION OF WATER
The department of Charente-Maritime is a part of numerous French departments concerned by the limitations of water. It will not thus be authorized to use the fresh water provided on pontoons to clean the boats.

Attention eyes !!!

2005-08-25T17:55:00.000+02:00

There will be an annular eclipse on October, 3rd 2005.
This eclipse of the sun will take place while we shall stay in Lanzarote for the stopover of Transat 6,50 Charente-Maritime/Bahia, think of protecting your eyes even if the vision of the eclipse since the Canarian Islands will be altered.
Here are some information concerning this phenomenon : this eclipse is the fourth annular eclipse of the XXIth century. It will be visible under partial shape on the major part of three continents : Europe, Africa, Asia. During an annular eclipse the luminosity falls strongly, but it is not totally dark. The moon goes in front of the sun, but being of an insufficient diameter to mask completely the sun, there is a slender ring of the sun around the black disk of the moon. The annular eclipses, because of their rarity and of the spectacle which they offer us, are more fascinating to observe. But it is all the more imperative to protect your eyes, because during an annular eclipse there is no secure phase.
Attention eyes ! NEVER observe the sun directly, even during a partial eclipse, and especially not through sun glasses, photograph films, slide etc., BUT NECESSARILY wear glasses of protection with guaranteed filters " IT N 89/686 ". It is advised to limit to some minutes the observations of the sun with those specific eclipse glasses and to make a time of break between two observations. During the annular eclipse of October 3rd, there will be no phase of protection, it is thus imperative to protect your eyes during all the duration of the eclipse.
To know the detailed schedules of the eclipse everywhere in France and Europe, visit : www.eclipse-glasses.com.

REGISTERED SKIPPERS

2005-08-22T18:33:00.000+02:00

UPDATED LIST ON AUGUST, 22th.

1- 385 Mumbru Jaime ESP ULISSES 65 Proto Teixido 2002
2- 393 Mc Carthy Cian IRL THE TOM CREAN Proto Owen Clarke 2002
3- 151 Le Blevec Yves FRA DEPHEMERID'EUX Proto Finot-Conq 1995
4- 386 Hochreutener Tobias SUI COMPLETE FREIGHT Proto Mergui 2002
5- 93 Sudrie Erwann FRA GWENN HA DU Proto Bouvet-Petit 1991
6- 432 Marchand Nicolas FRA IUT DE NIMES EN SEPTIMANIE Proto Manuard 2003
7- 212 Lagrange Jean-Christophe FRA ZOUKATI Série - 2 Rolland Pogo 1998
8- 391 Noblet Yvan FRA APPART CITY Proto Marin J. 2002
9- 424 De Lamotte Tanguy FRA SET ENVIRONNEMENT pour MECENAT CHIRURGIE CARDIAQUE Proto De Lamotte 2003
10- 320 Loulier Pierre FRA LOP LOP Série - 3 Rolland Pogo 2001
11- 139 Barrier Alexia FRA ROXY Proto Rolland 1995
12- 176 Currier Adam USA SATECH Proto Romanelli 1997
13- 368 Deshayes Ronan FRA PCO TECHNOLOGIES Série - 4 Magnan Super Calin 2001
14- 287 Bergman Manuel FRA FELIBRE GRAINE D'EPEAUTRE Série - 5 Magnan Super Calin 1999
15- 276 Joschke Isabelle FRA DEGREMONT Proto Cape 1999
16- 487 Sannié Mathieu FRA LPO LIGUE POUR LA PROTECTION DES OISEAUX Série - 6 Finot Pogo 2004
17- 438 Laureyssens Peter BEL WELLMENTS Série - 7 Finot Pogo 2003
18- 241 Simpson Stephen GBR BLUE ONE Proto Mills 1999
19- 417 Maslard Stanislas FRA CREDIT AGRICOLE SKIPPER CHALLENGE Proto Lombard 2002
20- 433 Douguet Corentin FRA E. LECLERC / BOUYGUES TELECOM Proto Manuard 2003
21- 480 Avram Olivier FRA CAP MONDE Série - 8 Finot Pogo 2004
22- 231 Bunoust Nicolas FRA GROUPE SCE Proto Lucas-Raison 1999
23- 483 Mesure Sébastien FRA CULTISOL - MARINS SANS FRONTIERES Série - 9 Finot Pogo 2004
24- 486 Bauwens Eric FRA TCHAO Série - 10 Finot Pogo 2004
25- 198 Hardy Adrien FRA BROSSARD Proto Magnen 1997
26- 468 Sottovia Bruno FRA APROTEC MORZINE Série - 11 Finot Pogo 2003
27- 431 Caracci Andrea ITA SPEEDY BONSAI Proto Manuard 2003
28- 312 Cassanas Matthieu FRA METALCO MOBLIER URBAIN Proto Villenave 2000
29- 346 Giraud Clément FRA ADRENALINE - METROPOLE ARCHITECTURE Proto Manuard 2001
30- 80 Roux Frédéric FRA PEPITO Proto Berret 1992
31- 389 Boudaoud Arezki FRA TOTEM Série - 12 Magnan Super Calin 2002
32- 323 Augeix David FRA NACL Série - 13 Rolland Pogo 2000
33- 518 Sorin Fabrice FRA JULES Série - 14 Finot Pogo 2004
34- 219 Monegier Quentin FRA MARIOLE Série - 15 Magnan Super Calin 1998
35- 19 Charmet Nicolas FRA LA LIGUE CONTRE LE CANCER Proto Berret 1981
36- 321 Gindre Pierre FRA LINKERS Proto Dejeanty 2000
37- 171 Haize Xavier FRA PRIM'AVEL Série - 16 Rolland Pogo 1997
38- 427 Gladu Sébastien FRA ARMOR LUX Proto Rolland 2003
39- 481 Chombart de Lauwe Marine FRA DCF Série - 17 Finot Pogo 2003
40- 306 Duc Louis FRA ROYER Série - 18 Rolland Pogo 2000
41- 466 De Saqui David FRA LADY PAULETTE Série - 19 Magnan Super Calin 2003
42- 516 Pontu Sylvain FRA UNE PLACE POUR CHACUN Série - 20 Finot Pogo 2004
43- 392 Mariotti Ludovic FRA KHIPLUS Proto Réard 2002
44- 265 Claquin Aloys FRA VECTEUR PLUS Proto Magnen-Nivelt 1999
45- 429 Pella Alex ESP OPEN SEA / TEAM WORK Proto Lombard 2002
46- 406 Blaise Philippe-Jacques FRA DELILALOS Proto Bouvet 2002
47- 419 Sharp Philip GBR LE GALLAIS Proto Magnen 2003
48- 407 Daret Dominique FRA MEYRIS Série - 21 Rolland Pogo 2002
49- 495 Courtel Jean-Christophe FRA SAFI - Société d'Aménagement du Finistère P/S - 22 Nivelt Mistral 6,54 2004
50- 491 Mergui Mikaël FRA MARCEL FOREVER Proto Manuard 2004
51- 511 Vidal Romain FRA BINGO Série - 23 Rolland Dingo 2004
52- 395 Voultoury Pierre FRA C2O Proto Fauroux-Bouvet 2002
53- 450 Ramon Hugo ESP MALLORCA ETS TU Série - 24 Lombard Clase Zero 2003
54- 508 Bourguet-Maurice Frédéric FRA PAMINA Proto Réard 2004
55- 500 Bubb Nick GBR WHITTLEBURY HALL Proto Rogers 2004
56- 260 Ducrot Cyril FRA REGION NORD PAS DE CALAIS Proto Lombard 1999
57- 243 Kargl Christian AUT GUIZMO Proto Seitz 1999
58- 318 Goyat Michel FRA GROUPE INFODIS Série - 25 Rolland Pogo 2001
59- 488 Croisel Bruno FRA PULCO Série - 26 Finot Pogo 2004
60- 75 Fisseux Patrice FRA BELLOT MULLENBACH & ASSOCIES Proto Berret 1991
61- 340 Bourrié Eric FRA TAQUET MAX Série - 27 Rolland Pogo 2001
62- 475 Bouillard Philippe FRA MONDIAL ASSISTANCE Série - 28 Rolland Pogo 2001
63- 78 Bluy Xavier FRA SMETS Proto Fauroux 1991
64- 509 Hajnsek Kristian SLO ADRIA MOBIL Proto Manuard 2004
65- 284 Delplace Yann FRA VILLE DE NICE - ALPES MARITIMES Proto Welsford 1995
66- 510 Mihelin Andraz SLO ADRIA MOBIL Proto Manuard 2004
67- 498 Le Carrou David FRA LE TREPORT TIRARD & BURGAUD Série - 29 Magnen Ginto 2004
68- 507 David Lefebvre FRA KNAUF - VENDEE Série - 30 Pogo 2 - 04
69- 403 Sanchis Mari Juan Carlos ESP SPASMOS Proto Bakewell-White 2003

FOREIGNER DCQ : 540 Chua Elaine SIN FENG Série Lombard Zero 2004
PROTOTYPE DCQ 1 : 454 Lancry David FRA AREAS ASSURANCES Proto Dejeanty 2005
PROTOTYPE DCQ 2 : 551 Gallay Bernard FRA BAHIA EXPRESS Proto Manuard 2005

WAITING LIST
73- 364 Seyrig Jacques-Arnaud FRA FAXY RED Série - 31 Rolland Pogo 2001
75- 352 Bloom Mark AUS DEVIAJE Proto Finot Conq 1999

THE RACE VILLAGE PROGRAMME

2005-08-22T16:19:00.000+02:00

SEPTEMBER, WEDNESDAY 7th.
- 7.00 PM : all the skippers have to be present in the “Bassin des Chalutiers “ – La Rochelle.
Tide schedule : high-water at 7.10 am and 7.18 pm
The doors open 2 hours before high-water : 5.10 am and 5.18 pm
- 8.00 PM : welcome aperitif at the Race Headquarter, offered by G.P.O.

SEPTEMBER, THURSDAY 8th.
- 9.00 AM / 7.00 PM : opening hours of the RACE H.Q. and the PRESS-CENTRE
- 9.00 AM / 5.00 PM : security controls of the boats
- 10.00 AM / 4.00 PM : sticking of the children’s drawings in the main sail.
- 5.00 PM / 6.30 PM : MANDATORY SKIPPERS BRIEFING – welcome, presentation, programme.
Location : E.C.O.L.E. de la Mer - Aquarium
- 6.30 PM / 7.30 PM : BRIEFING « sea rescue» by the Army – Location : idem

SEPTEMBER, FRIDAY 9th.
- 9.00 AM / 7.00 PM : opening hours of the RACE H.Q. and the PRESS-CENTRE
- 9.00 AM / 5.00 PM : security controls of the boats
- 10.00 AM / 4.00 PM : sticking of the children’s drawings in the main sail.
- 7.00 PM : Roxy » (139) Christening – Alexia Barrier – Minimes’s beach
- 8.00 PM : cocktail offered to the skippers by « Technique Voile » - Location : Minimes’s
beach, during the nautic show room Grand Pavois « Surfin’ Night ».

SEPTEMBER, SATURDAY 10th.
- 9.00 AM / 7.00 PM : opening hours of the RACE H.Q. and the PRESS-CENTRE
- 9.00 AM / 5.00 PM : security controls of the boats
- 10.00 AM / 4.00 PM : sticking of the children’s drawings in the main sail.

SEPTEMBER, SUNDAY 11th.
- 9.00 AM / 7.00 PM : opening hours of the RACE H.Q. and the PRESS-CENTRE
- 10.00 AM / 4.00 PM : sticking of the children’s drawings in the main sail.

SEPTEMBER, MONDAY 12th.
- 9.00 AM / 7.00 PM : opening hours of the RACE H.Q. and the PRESS-CENTRE
- 9.00 AM / 5.00 PM : security controls of the boats
- 10.00 AM / 4.00 PM : sticking of the children’s drawings in the main sail.

SEPTEMBER, TUESDAY 13th.
- 9.00 AM / 7.00 PM : opening hours of the RACE H.Q. and the PRESS-CENTRE
- 10.00 AM / 11.30 AM : MANDATORY SKIPPERS BRIEFING
subject : PROLOGUE – Location : E.C.O.L.E. de la Mer - Aquarium
- 12.00 PM : The boats leave the pontoons to spend the night in the Minimes’s Marina.
Tide schedule : high-water at 1h48 PM (coeff. 36)
- 20.00 PM : BBQ and Yacht Club Evening at the S.R.R. (Society of Regatas of La Rochelle / Minimes harbour). One drink offered to avery skippers, musical atmosphere on the terrace. Free entrance for everybody.

SEPTEMBER, WEDNESDAY 14th.
- 10.30 AM / 1.00 PM : PROLOGUE – boarding on each boat of one pupil from a sailing school of Charente-Maritime + 2 skipper’s guests maximum.
- 2.00 PM : . the competitors enter in the « Bassin des Chalutiers », in parade, with music background and presentation of each skipper to the audience.
THE RACE VILLAGE OPENS TO THE PUBLIC
- 2.00 PM / 7.00 PM : opening hours of the RACE H.Q. and the PRESS-CENTRE
- 3.00 PM / 5.00 PM : security controls of the boats
- 3.00 PM / 5.00 PM : sticking of the children’s drawings in the main sail.
- 8.00 PM : FRIENDSHIP AND VILLAGE’S OPENING APERITIF offered to the skippers by “Voiles Solitaires 17” and the "Farol" knives. Location : race village.

SEPTEMBER, THURSDAY 15th.
- 9.00 AM / 7.00 PM : opening hours of the RACE H.Q. and the PRESS-CENTRE
- 9.00 AM / 5.00 PM : security controls of the boats
- 10.00 AM / 4.00 PM : sticking of the children’s drawings in the main sail.
- 11.00 AM : « Parole » (176) Christening – Isabelle Joschke / bassin des Chalutiers
- 12.00 PM : « Assoc. Laurette Fugain» (340) Christening – Eric Bourrié / bassin des Chalutiers
- 5.30 PM / 7.30 PM : MANDATORY SKIPPERS BRIEFING – subject : beacons, coastal
authorities, race instructions - Location : « Maison de la Charente-Maritime »
- 8.00 PM : . PROLOGUE’s PRICE GIVING - Location : Maison de la Charente-Maritime
. Skippers official presentation – Cocktail
. OFFICIAL RACE DINNER offered by the Council of Charente-Maritime. (all the skippers have to be present)

SEPTEMBER, FRIDAY 16th.
- 9.00 AM / 7.00 PM : opening hours of the RACE H.Q. and the PRESS-CENTRE
- 9.00 AM / 5.00 PM : security controls of the boats
- 10.00 AM / 4.00 PM : sticking of the children’s drawings in the main sail.
- 12.00 PM : « Bon Pied Bon Œil » (260) Christening – Cyril DUCROT / bassin des Chalutiers
- 3.00 PM : « Groupe SCE» (231) Christening – Nicolas Bunoust / bassin des Chalutiers
- 4.00 PM : « E. Leclerc - Bouygues Telecom » (433) Christening – Corentin DOUGUET / bassin des Chalutiers
- « SET Environnement pour Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque» (424) Christening – Tanguy DE LAMOTTE
- 5.30 PM / 7.00 PM : MANDATORY SKIPPERS BRIEFING.
Subject : security – weather – departure
Location : E.C.O.L.E. de la Mer - Aquarium (behind closed doors)
- 7.00 PM / 8.00 PM : BATALA. Blessing of waves and port according to the Brazilian tradition.
- 8.00 PM : LAST DRING BEFORE THE START ! offered by G.P.O. - Location : Race Village
- 9.00 PM : Music and lights show on the harbour, offered by "La Loupiotte".

SEPTEMBER, SATURDAY 17th.
- 9.00 AM : « Knauf - Vendée » (507) Christening – David Lefebvre. Location : Bassin des Chalutiers

- 11.00 AM : « Cultisol – Marins sans Frontières » (483) Christening – Sébastien MESURE.

- 11.30 AM : « Bellot Mullenbach & Associés » (75) Christening – Patrice Fisseux.
- 3.00 PM : Parade exit of the boats for the start of the race, cultural and musical activity proposed by “Festivart”. Brasilian dances.

5.17 PM :
START OF THE TRANSAT 6.50 CHARENTE-MARITIME/BAHIA

Information for skippers

2005-08-19T09:59:00.000+02:00

Please find several useful information and reminders before the start of the Transat 6,50 Charente-Maritime/Bahia 2005

1/ THIRD PARTY INSURANCE
As it is clarified in the Notice of Race of the Transat 6.50, you have to sign an insurance covering any damage caused to a third party during the competition. The F.F.V. license (French Sailing Federation) covers you until 200 NM from the coasts. To complete this coverage, we signed a contract with MMA-MADER, who proposes for only 40 € fixed price / boat to insure you from 200 NM to Brazil. You can pay this additional insurance in the Race Headquarter from September 8th, by check in the order of MMA or by cash.

2/ DAILY VACATIONS DURING THE RACE
The Race Director will realize a daily vacation during the two legs of the Transat 6,50 Charente-Maritime/Bahia. These vacations will be relieved by MONACO RADIO, you can receive them with a B.L.U. equipped with a good antenna at 10:15 am G.M.T. Through these vacations, we will communicate to you :
- the weather report / situation and evolution, forecast for the next day. In French and in English
- the position of every competitor with distance to the arrival
- certain information concerning the competitors
This daily vacation is the way of communication which allows us to give messages to the skippers in race. Important : these messages will only concern the race, and will be made between the Race Direction and the competitors.
Explanations concerning the good use of the frequencies is available on www.monaco-radio.com, in the column "information".

3/ NAUTIC MAPS
Here is a reminder of the compulsory maps, SHOM or the equivalent, you must possess for the period of the race :
540 (english map) Brazil
3975 (english map) Salvador de Bahia
6807 East coast of South America
6813 from Récife to Dakar
6561 Route du Rhum
6624 from Lisbonne to Freetown
5834 Cap Vert Islands
7270 Canaries
7562 Lanzarote
7211 Gascogne Golf
7212 from Cap Finistère to Casablanca
6990 from Penmarc'h to Gironde
7404 La Rochelle
6815 East Atlantic Ocean
If you have difficulties finding both first ones, know that the card 540 corresponds to Brazilian map n°1110, and the card 3975 corresponds to Brazilian map n°1100.

4/ THE CHARENTE-MARITIME PRICE
The General Council of Charente-Maritime will offer a special 500-euro price in nautical material, to the first skipper which will cross the buoy of Fort Boyard after the start of the race.

5/ GRAND PAVOIS INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW
The Association of Grand Pavois has the pleasure to offer to each of 72 competitors of the Transat 6,50 a badge "Honor Guest ", which will allow you to enter the boat show of Grand Pavois, from September, 7th till 12th on the Minimes's Harbour.

6/ PROLOGUE OF THE TRANSAT 6,50 : SKIPPERS AND GUESTS ON BOARD
We remind you that during the prologue of the Transat 6,50 Charente-Maritime/Bahia 2005, which will take place on Wednesday, September 14th, you will have on your board a child from a local sailing club. It is possible to you to embark in more two persons of your choice (that is a maximum of 4 persons on board). Important : please be sure that your guests possess a valid FFV license. If it is not the case, it will be possible to them to take a temporary license for the day, the day before or the morning of the prologue. This temporary license costs 6,50 € / person and will be to pay (by cash or by check in the name of the SRR) before the loading. To get it, the persons will have to give a medical certificate attesting they can do sailing.

7/ OFFICIAL DINER
All the skippers participating in Transat 6,50 Charente-Maritime/Bahia 2005 are warmly invited in the official dinner, which will be held on Thursday, September 15th in the General Council. This dinner will take place at 9:30 pm, after the mandatory skippers briefing, the official and individual presentation of competitors, the pricegiving of the prologue and the opening ceremony of the competition. Important : every skipper can come accompanied with one person maximum.

Don't hesitate to contact me if you need some more information.
Yours friendly,
Muriel.
+335 45 44 46 39 - mlapalu@grand-pavois.com

PRESENTATION OF THE SKIPPER FROM SINGAPORE

2005-08-11T14:31:00.000+02:00

Elaine CHUA, onboard FENG - # 540
Born December, 29th 1977 (27), lives between Spain, France and Singapore !

PRESENTATION OF THE SKIPPER FROM AUSTRIA

2005-08-11T14:26:00.000+02:00

Christian KARGL, onboard GUIZMO - # 243
Born April, 8th 1979 (26), lives in Maria-Enzersdorf.
2nd of the Adriatic Sailing Week on Jeanneau OD in 2002

3rd of the Adriatic Sailing Week on Elan 31 on 2003

PRESENTATION OF THE 2 SKIPPERS FROM SLOVENIA

2005-08-11T13:56:00.000+02:00

Kristian HAJNSEK, onboard ADRIA MOBIL - # 509
Born August 13rd 1974 (31), lives in Ljubljana.
Winner of the National Championship in Jod 35 in Croatia in 2002

3rd of the "Triangle du Soleil" Race in France in 2004

Andraz MIHELIN, onboard ADRIA MOBIL - # 510
Born October, 31th 1973 (31), lives in Ljubljana.
Winner of the National Championship in Jod 35 in Croatia in 2002
5th of the Rolex Middle Sea Race onboard VO 60' AAG in 2003

PRESENTATION OF THE SKIPPER FROM IRLAND

2005-08-11T13:51:00.000+02:00

Cian Mc CARTHY, onboard THE TOM CREAN - # 393

Born February, 13th 1978 (27), lives in Cork.
Has already participated to Transat 6,50 in 2003

PRESENTATION OF THE 3 SKIPPERS FROM U.K.

2005-08-11T13:25:00.000+02:00

Nick BUBB, onboard WHITTLEBURY HALL - # 500

Born April 1rst 1979 (26), lives in Suffolk.

British Universities Sailing Association Dinghy Champion in 2000

R.Y.A. Yachtmaster of the year in 2002

Stephen SIMPSON, onboard BLUE ONE - # 241
Born September, 21th 1954 (50), lives in Llangollen.
3rd of the Open Demi-Cle Race in 2002

Phil SHARP, onboard LE GALLAIS - # 419
Born May, 11th 1981 (24), lives in Jersey.
Winner of the Cowes Week in Sunfast 36 Class in 2002
3rd of the Young Skipper's Trophy in 2003

HISTORY OF THE RACE

2005-08-11T10:39:00.000+02:00

2005 TRANSAT 6.50 CHARENTE-MARITIME/BAHIA : BE THERE ON SATURDAY 17th SEPTEMBER AT 17H17 !

Start on Saturday 17th September 2005 off Fort-Boyard.
An unchanged course heading towards Salvador de Bahia (Brazil), crossing the Atlantic via Puerto Calero in Lanzarote (Canaries – Spain)
72 boats will be starting out with almost 20 foreign boats expected
4250 miles or 7871 kilometres of single-handed racing aboard 6.50 metre boats

Twenty eight years after the event was first set up, the 15th edition of the Transat 6.50 Charente-Maritime/Bahia will be setting out on Saturday 17th September at 17h17 from alongside Fort Boyard, the famous historical monument in Charente-Maritime on the West coast of France, to head towards Salvador de Bahia (Brazil). An unchanged course, which was launched by the special events service of the Grand Pavois, GPO, back in 2001. Just as during the previous two editions, the competitors will first aim for Puerto Calero (Lanzarote – Canaries) before crossing the Equator and approaching the Brazilian coast. The course requires tactical and technical skills, as the journey will take the fleet around Cape Finisterre, down the Portuguese coast, alongside the coast of Africa, before they go through the infamous Doldrums with their ominous calms and violent squalls. The trade winds in the Southern Hemisphere will then be a welcome relief pushing the 6.50 Minis along to the finish in Salvador de Bahia. 4250 miles of sailing (7871 kilometres) via the Equator.

In the same spirit…
Since its launch back in 1977, the Transat 6.50 Charente-Maritime/Bahia (ex-Mini Transat) has seen all the greatest names in ocean racing taking part. It was Daniel Gilard on Petit Dauphin, who was the first winner of the event, and he was to be followed by Yves Parlier, Gilles Chiorri, Thierry Dubois and Yvan Bourgnon. However, among the other participants, who have managed to take part on one or several occasions in this mythical race, we can mention the names of Loïck and Bruno Peyron, Laurent Bourgnon, Jean-Luc Van Den Heede, Thomas Coville, Isabelle Autissier, Ellen MacArthur, Catherine Chabaud, Bernard Stamm, Michel Desjoyeaux, Lionel Lemonchois, Halvard Mabire, Marc Guillemot, Lionel Péan, Dominic Vittet, Anne Liardet, Lalou Roucayrol, Benoit Parnaudeau, Karen Leibovici, Marc Thiercelin… Nevertheless, what dominates above all is the spirit of this transatlantic race. Laurent Bourgnon, 2nd in 1987 declared: «This is real sailing, just what I love. Anyone can take part. With a small budget and a lot of willpower, you can enter it. Then, above all, the atmosphere is great. There is some real friendship between the participants. We talk to each other and give each other advice. Afterwards, sailing loses that breath of fresh air …».
Mostly involving amateur sailors, the Transat 6.50 Charente-Maritime/Bahia is well known as the gateway to the professional world of ocean racing. The first rung of the ladder, but one which is never forgotten. «It was this race, which gave me the appetite for ocean racing, and I’ll never forget it» pointed out Ellen MacArthur, 15th in 1997.

72 boats starting out split into two classes…
Over the past 28 years, the number of entrants has grown steadily. While there were only 23 in the first edition, 72 sailors will be setting sail on 17th September from the foot of Fort Boyard. Among them, there are more and more foreign competitors, making this single-handed transatlantic race the most international of ocean races. Thus, 16 sailors from 11 different countries will be represented, including Spain, Ireland, Switzerland, the U.S., Belgium, Great Britain, Italy, Austria, Slovenia, Singapore and France. 5 women will be setting out this year : one English woman, one from Singapore and 3 French women. Undeniably down to the success of the Classe Mini, the technical ability of the skippers and their boats has been constantly improving and the battle for first place is increasingly tough in both classes, the Prototypes and the Series boats. The qualifying date has been set for the end of July, but already by the end of June, 44 boats have signed up in the Prototypes and 28 in the series class (you can follow the qualifications on the Classe Mini website: www.classemini.com). We should add that this transatlantic race does not allow the use of a router or external help. The 72 Minis will face the Atlantic crossing alone in this unique ocean racing event, where the only help they are allowed comes from the GPS (global positioning system), automatic pilot and electronic wind gauges. There are no computer programmes for route planning, no help and no weather charts sent to them, no computers on board nor satellite communications equipment. It’s almost a journey back in time !

On the 17th September at 17h17…
While initially it was planned to begin on Sunday 18th September, it seemed that Saturday 17th September would be more appropriate. «The date is interesting, as the tide is higher» explained Denis Hugues, the Transat 6.50 Charente-Maritime/Bahia race director. «On the 18th, the race would have started later around 18.00 hours, and even with a short coastal run, the participants would have found themselves coming out of the Pertuis d’Antioche in far from easy conditions for a 10 day leg. By bringing the date forward to the 17th September, it allows us to gain an hour in the overall timing. Moreover on Sundays, there are fewer fishermen working, so a smaller chance of coming across them in the Bay of Biscay, thus reducing the risk of a collision.» The time and ate has thus been set for Saturday 17th September at 17h17. A highly symbolic date and time, as the start will take place off Fort Boyard, the historic symbol of Charente-Maritime, which in French is Department number 17.