A breath of fresh air is blowing through New York’s marinas. Around forty boats from France took possession of the pontoons of the Big Apple this week. These boats are mainly IMOCAs, a class of 60-foot (18.28 meter) monohull sailboats designed for solo ocean races. On board, experienced sailors who have crossed the Atlantic, and completed, from Lorient, the Transat CIC, the old legendary English Transat which notably revealed Eric Tabarly to the general public in the 1960s.
We will find the majority of these boats and these skippers at the start of the New York-Vendée, this race which takes place in the opposite direction to the Transat CIC, which must set off from the Big Apple on Wednesday May 29 to connect Les Sables d’Olonne, in France, about ten days later.
For three weeks, the boats will therefore mainly remain docked in New York. The crews will work on these technological gems, repair small problems and recharge the batteries. Sailing enthusiasts and the most curious will therefore have the opportunity to see them, up close or a little further away depending on the access rules decided by the marinas.
The winner Yoann Richomme at One15
Three marinas in New York welcome sailboats, as well as the famous port of Newport, in the state of Rhode Island, where some sailors also have the opportunity to dock their vessel. In New York, it will be One 15 (159 Bridge Park Dr, in Brooklyn, in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood); Pier 6 (right next to One 15) and Moonbeam (3260 Flatbush Avein Brooklyn, in the Marine Park neighborhood).
The winner of the Transat CIC, Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa), will be based at One15, in the company of other sailors, such as the British Sam Davies (Initiatives Coeur, 3rd in the race), and the French Charlie Dalin (Macif Santé Prévoyance , 4th) and Maxime Sorel (V&B Monbana Mayenne, 5th).
Yoann Richomme’s runner-up in the Transat CIC, the German Boris Herrmann (Malizia Seaexplorer) will be right next door, at Pier 6, in the company of Sam Goodchild (For The Planet), Justine Mettraux (Teamwork Team Snef ) and Thomas Ruyant (For People). Moonbeam will also bring together several sailboats, including those of Fabrice Amedeo (Nexans), Yannick Bestaven (Maître Coq V) and Conrad Colman (Imagine).
The others, finally, will set sail for Newport, a legendary city for sailors, notably for having hosted the arrival of the English Transat from its creation in 1960 to the year 2000. The port city now hosts the Sailing Museum and Hall of Fame. A perfect place, therefore, for skippers after a long and trying crossing. They will definitely feel like they are at home.
Entertainment until the departure of New York-Vendée
Before the departure of the New York-Vendée, other activities are planned: Friday May 24 will take place the Vendée Liberty Show, an exhibition outing in Manhattan Bay, between Governors Island and the Statue of Liberty. The view promises to be splendid from the piers of southern Manhattan or those of Brooklyn.
This day, Friday May 24, will be the day of celebration and celebration of French culture in the United States. Many events will take place at Collective Retreats, the ultra chic reception venue located on Governors Island. On the program: tastings by French chefs, Vendée products, round tables with the skippers, musical entertainment, including one by the American-French conductor William Christie, founder of the Les Arts Florissants ensemble.
