The Artemis Transat - All set!

"Sure, the tension is mounting as we're getting closer to the start", said Dee Caffari this morning, summing up the general atmosphere around Sutton Harbour. For Yann Elies, the light forecast is a relief, as "it would have been more stressful if we had to leave in 35 knots of wind on the nose." But all the skippers made a point, during the press conference, to underline the fact that the expected mild conditions at the start will not make the ride an easy and laid-back one!
As Yann Elies said, "I predict a Figaro type of pace, with only 2 hours of sleep per day for the first 3 days" - and he sure knows what he's talking about, having spent 10 seasons on the grueling singlehanded one-design circuit!

All the videos

Race favourites Michel Desjoyeaux (2004 winner) and Loick Peyron (1992 & 1996 winner) have both emphasised the fact that IMOCA boats certainly demand a lot of work. As Loick put it: "they are very demanding boats, better be on one than to be watching the fleet - though they are pretty to look at - to stay competitive!" In his unmistakable fashion, he added that his ambition for this race was "to finish a few seconds before the second boat". The 13-boat fleet is now all set and ready to go, and skippers have definitely switched to race mode, anxious to be out on the water. "The race is very open tactically speaking, and we can look forward to great moments at sea", concluded 2005 Vendée Globe winner Vincent Riou.

Who will win?
The Artemis Transat form guide, courtesy of James Boyd, www.thedailysail.com
So the million dollar question: who will win the Artemis Transat in the Grand Prix IMOCA 60 class? Neck and neck favourites in the opinion of thedailysail.com are Loick Peyron and Michel Desjoyeaux. Both skippers are not only formidably successful solo sailors but particularly on this course westward across the North Atlantic. During the 1990s Peyron was twice a winner of the race board his Fujicolor 60ft trimarans, while Desjoyeaux won the Transat four years ago, also aboard three hulls in the ORMA 60 class.
Read the whole article here http://theartemistransat.com/60/article.asp?sid=14446

A 36-hour blackout period
The organisers of The Artemis Transat have decided to introduce a 36-hour positions blackout - warning the contenders 48 hours in advance - in order to open the tactical game during the Atlantic crossing. No positions or leaderboard will be available during this period. With the development of weather analysis tools, positioning devices, evolution of the sea - land communications, the modern day ocean racer is a world away from his 1970-1980s counterpart. In those days, who knew where their opponents were? The game has become more accurate, and today skippers make tactical choices not only with the weather in mind, but also taking into account their rivals' positions. Ocean racing does not merely come down to sheer speed, the choice of trajectory is crucial, and by imposing a 36-hour blackout (during which contact with the boats will be maintained as usual), the organisers of The Artemis Transat certainly add some spice to the race.

Jean-Luc Nélias strategic consultant for The Artemis Transat
Being one of France's most prominent routers and navigators, Jean-Luc Nélias will provide a daily tactical analysis during The Artemis Transat. Having recently teamed up with Roland Jourdain for the doublehanded Barcelona World Race, the Breton skipper has accumulated successes as an on-shore strategist, notably routing Jourdain to victory in the latest Route du Rhum. Jean-Luc Nélias is one of those sailors that just won't take any nonsense. Rigorous, well-organized and hard-working, the man has a straightforward approach and likes to get involved in every domain of his trade, a trade he mostly learnt while crewing big multihulls with the likes of Paul Vatine, Jean Maurel or Serge Madec. He then skippered the Belgacom trimarans on the ORMA circuit, which requires extreme concentration and stainless steel nerves, developing a passion for weather analysis and strategy.

Pulled over in mid-Atlantic!
Aboard Safran, Marc Guillemot returns to Plymouth for his third participation. He recalls the 2000 edition, and a rather funny anecdote: "The going started to get rough after the Azores, and the final part looked fantastic with a big fight between Joyon, Cammas, Gautier and myself. Just before the Grand Banks, I was repairing a reef line, sitting on the boom in 35 to 40 knots of wind, when suddenly a projector illuminated the whole boat: it was the Coast Guards, asking me for the trimaran's registration certificate! They wouldn't let me go even when I told them that there were 60 boats chasing after me!"

The Royal Navy in the race
Well versed in the dangers and excitement of ocean navigation, the Royal Navy fully understands the commitment and drive required to compete in the Artemis Transat Race, which receives the support of the HMS Argyll. Most major Naval Establishments operate an offshore yacht which is used for a mixture of recreational sailing, racing and training. Royal Naval Sailing Association members have been increasingly prominent in all major sailing events in the past few years.