Transat Jacques Vabre 2015 Finish, Macif, Francois Gabart, Pascal Bidégorry (videos)

UPDATE: In its first race, the Trimaran MACIF signs a magnificent victory in the Transat Jacques Vabre. François Gabart and Pascal Bidégorry Brazil crossed the finish line on Saturday, November 7 at 20.75 knots average speed: video below--



The MACIF trimaran in the trade winds off Brazil, Transat Jacques Vabre 2015, November 4, 2015: The MACIF trimaran continues off the Brazilian coast and skippers are smiling!

The Finish Line Awaits | Transat Jacques Vabre 2015 : Le Havre - Itajai | October 2015 | Take to the seas and act for the planet: "Francois Gabart and Pascal Bidégorry are on the home stretch with no significant weather hurdles remaining on the 5400 miles Transat Jacques Vabre course which left Le Havre on Sunday 25th October. At 1600hrs UTC this Friday afternoon they had 314 miles standing between their bows of Macif and the finish line in Itajaí. Second placed Thomas Coville and Jean Luc Nélias on Sodebo Ultim are 178 miles behind and have been averaging three knots slower than Macif which is making 27 to 28kts. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, victory should be Macif’s in the early hours of Saturday morning. Skipper Francois Gabart, who won the Vendée Globe on his first attempt at just 29 years old in January 2013, said today that the final 40 miles into the finish line will be complicated, but their margin over second placed Sodebo Ultim’ should be enough to secure a maiden race victory...." (Read more at link above)- LIVE Tracker -- More info: JohnTheCrowd | Sailing News: Transat Jacques Vabre 2015 (twitter feed / video)

Above: SODEBO ULTIM - TJV 2015: "Champagne sailing" between the Canaries and Cape Verde, just a few days ago. Idyllic conditions on SodeboUltim: blue sky, flat sea and wind ... (Published on Oct 30, 2015)


First images of MACIF trimaran in the southern hemisphere

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Transat Jacques Vabre 2015, Itajai Saturday Surprise? Sailing Videos

Transat Jacques Vabre 05/11/2015 - Images du Bord Sodebo Ultim' (Th. Coville - J.-L. Nélias)


Hope Leukemia Group Queguiner Transat Jacques Vabre IMOCA 2015

A Surprise before Saturday? | Transat Jacques Vabre 2015 : Le Havre - Itajai | October 2015 | Take to the seas and act for the planet: "The early morning (CET) Saturday should see the first Ultime break the finish line off Itajaí, Brasil to take overall line honours in this 12th edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre. With just under 800 miles of racing left the last 24 hours have seen Thomas Coville and Jean Luc Nélias come right back into race leaders Francois Gabart and Pascal Bidégorry, reducing their deficit from a maximum figure of over 250 miles to a margin of 120 miles this Thursday afternoon.  Second placed Coville and Nélias were on the wrong end of a rich get richer scenario during Tuesday and Wednesday, the leaders on MACIF were scything south into strengthening and lifting breeze. But today the tables turn slightly as the trade winds give way to one final unpredictable, stormy low pressure system which stands between them and Itajaí. MACIF were gaining again this afternoon, going slightly quicker, but victory is far from assured for Gabart and Bidégorry ..." read more at link above

TJV2015 Tracker
More info: JohnTheCrowd | Sailing News: Transat Jacques Vabre 2015 (twitter feed / video) 

Video above: Hugo Boss Helitreuillage de Alex Thomson et Guillermo Altadill Transat Jacque Vabre 

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Transat Jacques Vabre 2015, Le Havre, France to Itajai, Brazil (video)

IMOCA Safran--Transat Jacques Vabre: Published on Oct 20, 2015 - The monohull IMOCA Safran, skippered by Morgan Lagravière and Nicolas Lunven, arrived at Le Havre, France, with few days until the start of the Transat Jacques Vabre. 42 competitors entered in this famous double-handed transat.

Transat Jacques Vabre 2015 : Le Havre, France - Itajai, Brazil: | Take to the seas and act for the planet:

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'The Worst is Passed!' Skippers on the Vacs this morning | Transat Jacques Vabre 2015 : Le Havre - Itajai | October 28, 2015 | Take to the seas and act for the planet:

Vincent Riou, PRB skipper IMOCA: " "Like every day, it's war. The boat is making 20kts and we have to be on it all the time... The worst is behind us now. We have two days on starboard, some sail changes to manage. I start looking to the Azores, which side to pass – windward or leeward – what is clear is that we will pass close to the islands. It is going well on PRB, for the moment, we’ll keep it up!”

Charlie Dalin, co-skipper of Queguiner - Leukemia Espoir (IMOCA): "To move around the boat on deck you are soaked. There was a lot of wind, between 30 and 40 knots. We are very happy with our position, everything is fine on board... "

Tanguy de Lamotte, skipper Initiatives Heart (IMOCA):"It is going well. Let’s say it's pretty invigorating sailing conditions. You are jumping waves when you are over 20kts..."

Getting into the groove...Guillermo Altadill speaks this morning | Transat Jacques Vabre 2015: "Gullermo Altadill, ESP, Hugo Boss IMOCA: “The night was OK. Last night we got gusts to 40kt but we managed to work with the sail changes to look after the boat, so we sailed to more west to get closer to the fleet. We are going upwind now and waiting for the next front for the shift to get on to starboard again and get reaching."

Transat Jacques Vabre: Bourgnon and Lamiré: (video at link) Gilles Lamiré and Yvan Bourgnon, participating in the Transat Jacques Vabre on a trimaran Multi50 (15.24 m), announced that they were abandoning the race with their boat hit a floating container between two waters.

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Capsizes Damage 5 Sailboats, Day 1 Transat Jacques Vabre (video)

Capsizes and Damage to 5 boats on Day 1 Transat Jacques Vabre in the Bay of Biscay. (Published on Oct 27, 2015): 40 knots of wind and 6-7 metre waves play havoc with the fleet in the 2015 Transat Jacques Vabre. Five of the "top contenders' had to retire from the race after either capsizing or experiencing damage in the wild conditions. They were Edmond de Rothschild, Safran, Maitre CoQ, Prince de Bretagne and Team Concise.

Transat Jacques Vabre 2015 : Le Havre - Itajai | October 2015 | Take to the seas and act for the planet: Transat Jacques Vabre 2015 : Le Havre, France to Itajai, Brazil - 5400 miles

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Different Strokes | Transat Jacques Vabre 2015 : Le Havre - Itajai | Octobre 27 2015: "While a high pressure ridge threatens to slow the Ultime’s positive progress south, the good news for the highly competitive IMOCA class is that the leaders have reached the awaited windshift which has allowed them to point their bows south west, out of the worst of a low pressure and at least in the direction of the finish line some 4800 miles away in Itajaí. But for the Class 40s and some of the later IMOCAs a new low pressure is the next big threat. 35 of the entry of 42 boats are still heading for Itajaí. Lemonchois and Bilou Rescued Lionel Lemonchois and Roland Jourdain whose Ultime multi Prince de Bretagne capsized just after 1900hrs UTC Monday night, 140 miles NW of La Coruna resisted the option of activating their distress beacon and seeking outside assistance for as long as possible. But with 30kts winds this afternoon and four metres waves and the prospect of 40kts tomorrow Wednesday they triggered their beacon this afternoon around 1520hrs UTC. They consulted with their partners and shore team, keeping up to date with Transat Jacques Vabre Race Direction, and in the end the skippers safety is the main priority. CROSS Gris Nez and MRCC Madrid successfully coordinated their evacuation and by 1700hrs UTC the duo were in a helicopter. Safran, Edmond de Rothschild IMOCA problems, Team Concise out in Class 40 ..." read more at link above

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