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Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre

30 years of an
anthological race

2023, destination Martinique!

2023 marks the 30th anniversary of the Transat Jacques Vabre, and for the second year running, the finish will be held on the Ile aux fleurs in the port of Fort-de-France.
A great way for Martinique to welcome enthusiasts and celebrate its love of sport and the ocean.

At
program...

Practical information

Nearly 200 skippers will set sail from Le Havre in Normandy on October 29 to reach Fort-de-France around November 12.

This year, a record fleet of nearly a hundred boats will set sail from the Normandy coast: 40 IMOCA, 44 Class40, 6 OCean Fifty and 5 ULTIM.

Four routes of 4500, 6000 and 7000 nautical miles respectively have been designed for the occasion, depending on the class.

This breakdown will enable all skippers to arrive in Martinique at the same time and celebrate their arrival in style... Because in Martinique, we like to party!

So, after crossing the starting line at 10min intervals per class:

The Class40s will set sail off the North Atlantic with a passage over the island of Sal.
The IMOCA and OCean Fifty trimarans will take to the South Atlantic, where the monohulls will pass through the Brazilian archipelago of São Paulo and Sao Pedro and the multihulls through the island of Fernando de Noronha.
The ULTIMs, the largest sailing boats in the world, will sail even further south to Ascension Island.

Some dates key

21/10

Grand anniversary concert of the race at the starting village,

28/10

Fireworks over the port of Le Havre,

29/10

Start of the Transat Jacques Vabre,

12/11

Boats arrive in Fort-de-France.

The departure village at Le havre

And as a 30th anniversary is something to celebrate, Le Havre is decked out in its finest colors from October 20 to 29 to welcome the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre starting village. Young and old will be able to try their hand at a wide range of activities, and you'll also be able to meet some of the greatest skippers. With a view to moderating its environmental and societal impact, the starting village has set up:

Mild mobility with a green ticket,
Infrastructures designed for people with reduced mobility,
A real welcome for schoolchildren in the village and publication of an educational kit,
As well as optimizing and recycling the waste produced on site.

See you at the finish line! In the meantime, check out the Le Havre Village entertainment program for this 2023 edition!

Discover the program

The finish village in
Fort-de-France

The arrival village of the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre in Fort-de-France is part of an eco-responsible approach, a necessary commitment to preserve our island, which has become a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.

From November 11 to 19, from 10am to 6pm, the village opens its doors in Fort-de-France to celebrate the arrival of the skippers in front of the pontoons.

On the program: discover exhibitors and their craft skills, cultural events, games and exclusive offers to discover the riches of Martinique.

Let's celebrate this 30th anniversary together in the sublime Bay of Fort-de-France!

Who gets the tour?

After the victories of Franck Cammas and Charles Caudrelier aboard their ULTIM Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, Sébastien Rogues and Matthieu Souben on their Ocean Fifty Primonial, Thomas Ruyant and Morgan Lagravière on their IMOCA Linked Out and Antoine Carpentier and Pablo Santurde Del Arco on their Class40 monohull Redman...

Who will succeed the 4 winning pairs in the 2021 edition?

Set sail for the coffee road, the real thing

Martinique, land of coffee, boating and biodiversity

Three centuries ago, Flower Island was the original arrival point of the coffee route.
The coffee plants took to the waves from France's west coast to land on Martinique's verdant shores after a long journey on the waters of the Atlantic. It was a long and ambitious journey, but one that has proved to be rich in every way throughout history.

Coffee is a product of the coffee industry.

So, for this 16th anniversary edition and for a second time, Martinique has been chosen to host the finish of this demanding race.

A sumptuous land with unrivalled biodiversity, the flower island brings together seas, mountains, forests, beaches and cascades and is home to a multitude of animal and plant species.
It's a lush land with a fragile ecosystem where flora and fauna coexist in harmony.

Martinique is also a splendid land of water sports, home to some of the finest diving spots in the two surrounding bodies of water. A veritable sanctuary for underwater life, Martinique is a mecca for water sports enthusiasts, who above all else love to practice and enjoy each other's company.

Martinique is also a splendid land of water sports.

A rich, authentic and generous island, a sanctuary for ocean lovers.

So what better destination to pay tribute to the 30th anniversary of the Transat Jacques Vabre?

On the coffee Road

History of the Transat Jacques Vabre

The Transat Jacques Vabre, also known as the Route du Café, is a double-handed transatlantic race held every two years.

Since 1993, the Transat, the world's longest transatlantic race, has retraced the historic route of the coffee route.

Conquering the ocean Atlantic

Race itinerary

Every two years, the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre links the shores of Le Havre, its historic port of departure and coffee port par excellence, to various coffee destinations.

Over the years, arrivals have become increasingly impressive in emblematic coffee countries: Colombia, Brazil, Costa Rica...

During the first 4 editions from 1993 to 1999, the port of arrival was Cartagena in Colombia,
From 2001 to 2007, the race ends in Salvador de Bahia in Brazil,
The 2009 and 2011 editions end in Costa Rica at Puerto Limon,
In 2013 and 2015, the finishing port is Itajaì in Brazil,
The finish of the 2017 and 2019 races was again held in Salvador de Bahia,
For the 15th edition, in 2021, the race finishes in Martinique in the port of Fort de France.
In 2023 the anniversary edition of the race is held. It will once again finish on our beautiful island in the port of Fort-de-France.

The rendezvous of the greatest (boats)

Monohulls and multihulls

Over the years, the Route du Café has brought together many different types of 40-, 50- and 60-foot monohull and multihull boats: ORMAs, MOD70s, ULTIM 32/23s, Multi50 Open Fifties, IMOCAs and Class40s. Today, the number of boat types has lightened and only IMOCAs, Class40s, Ocean Fifties and ULTIMs will compete off the Atlantic Ocean.

Historically, the race organizes a different route for each type of boat to ensure that all the duos cross the finish line at the same time.

A race of excellence that many skippers dream of experiencing and which often acts as a preparation race for the famous Vendée Globe.

Ready for the 16th edition?