The race
The race
THE NORTH ATLANTIC, THE HARD WAY
The Transat CIC - solo ocean racing at its purest. It's a challenge punctuated by a succession of lows that sweep across the North Atlantic and generate headwinds, the great feature of this race. In the beginning, the record for the crossing was around 40 days. Today, the greatest solo specialists at the helm of the fastest boats can cover the same distance in just 8 days.
Which means even more respect for the winners
Which means even more respect for the winners
Which means even more respect for the winners
But we can go further north or south to avoid the worst conditions, can't we?
You can head north to try and get around the top of the lows, which are moving from west to east and generating westerly winds, i.e. headwinds. But the northerly option can prove dangerous because of the ice drifting in from the Arctic and because of the freezing fog to the south of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, which can reduce visibility to less than a quarter of a mile. And that's no fun when you're so tired you can hardly keep your eyes open. The south is another option, but it can add hundreds of miles to the route, and there's always the risk of getting stuck in light winds.
Ice and fog are the main threats, but you also have to keep an eye out for cargo ships and especially fishing boats, as well as the usual debris in the water and marine mammals. Some collisions with whales have already damaged boats. There are many obstacles to contend with on The Transat route.
Which means even more respect for the winners
Which means even more respect for the winners
Which means even more respect for the winners
A historic event
The race has a special aura because it dates back to the very beginnings of single-handed ocean racing. It's where Chichester and Tabarly cut their teeth. At the time, people thought they would die trying to reach America solo, and since then, the race has offered some incredible tales of victory and failure. Today it seems more accessible, but if the weather conditions aren't right, The Transat can still be hell.