2023 Transat Jacques Vabre: an exceptionally exciting edition

95 boats set sail from Le Havre for this sixteenth edition, a record number, with four classes and therefore four winners in Fort-de-France, with each sharing the same emotion. 

A breathtaking edition 

It does not matter how many times you finish first, winning a transatlantic race is always a very special moment. There were some tears from Thomas Ruyant and Morgan Lagravière (For People in the IMOCAs) in Martinique, as well as from Ambrogio Beccaria and Nicolas Andrieu (Alla Grande Pirelli in Class40), which if really necessary prove that. What can we say about Armel Le Cleac’h and Sébastien Josse (Maxi banque Populaire XI in the ULTIM category), who sent the crowds wild at the finish, as if they were rock stars. As for Thibaut Vauchel-Camus and Quentin Vlamynck (Solidaires En Peloton in the Ocean Fifty category), they were soaked and exhausted, but so pleased to have mastered their race from start to finish. It is clear to all that the 2023 edition was of a rare intensity. The strategic options and tricky sea conditions meant that the suspense lasted until the end. The Coffee Race is more than ever the most demanding transatlantic race in the world of ocean racing. 

ULTIMs: 

1 - Armel Le Cleac’h and Sébastien Josse (Banque Populaire)

2 - François Gabart and Tom Laperche (SVR Lazartigue)

3 - Charles Caudrelier and Erwan Israël (Edmond De Rothschild)

Ocean Fifty category: 

1 - Thibaut Vauchel-Camus and Quentin Vlamynck (Solidaires En Peloton)

2 - Fabrice Cahierc and Aymeric Chapellier (Réalités)

3 - Pierre Quiroga and Ronan Treussart (Viabilis Océans)

IMOCAs:

1 - Thomas Ruyant and Morgan Lagravière (For People)

2 - Yoann Richomme and Yann Eliès (Paprec Arkéa)

3 - Sam Goodchild and Antoine Koch (For the Planet)

Class 40s: 

1 - Ambrogio Beccaria and Nicolas Andrieu (Alla Grande Pirelli)

2 - Achille Nebout and Gildas Mahé (Amarris)

3 - Alberto Bona and Pablo Santurde Del Arco (IBSA)

Record crowds at the start Village

For the 2023 race, the Transat Jacques Vabre Association raised a budget of 5.5 million euros, which was 35% more than in 2021.

This budget meant that there were many new activities and events in the villages in Le Havre and in Martinique. 

1. 655,000 visitors including 4600 schoolchildren in the villages in Le Havre and in Martinique + 15%)
2. 2800 introductions to sailing
3. 62,000 cups of coffee distributed to the public (in eco-friendly cups recyclable for the next edition)
4. 9000 meals served in the Hector restaurant in the village in Le Havre
5. 80 exhibitors on the 23,500 m2 area in the village in Le Havre
6. 7000 people welcomed in the various hospitality units 

The general public increasingly won over

Whether we are looking at the start live on the television or the numbers visiting the website and social media during the race, the general public showed even more enthusiasm than in previous years.

Live coverage of the start*: + 25% in comparison to 2021

1. More than 1 million TV viewers
2. 600,000 views on Youtube

TV programmes: 9.5 % audience share

1. 71 TV and digital broadcasters around the world
2. Short programmes on ‘France Télévisions’: 1.3 million viewers a day

Website: + 27% in comparison to 2021

1. More than 2 million unique users
2. More than 23 million pages viewed 

Social media: 35,000 additional fans 

1. 8.5 million views of the Posts
2. 5 million views of the Stories
3. 20 million impressions achieved on social networks

The cumulative media feedback led to the equivalent of 64 million Euros worth of advertising (+ 20% in comparison to 2021).

* Bringing together all of the starts between 29^th October and 7^th November

The start of the seventeenth edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre will be on 26^th October 2025, with once again the fleet heading for Martinique. The village will open its doors in Le Havre on 17^th October. We sincerely hope that the next edition will be as action-packed and exciting as the 2023 edition.

Quotes: 

Gildas Gautier, joint managing director of the Transat Jacques Vabre. 

"This was a fantastic edition. It has been a long time since we saw such a race. The monohull fleets came up with some amazing, radical strategic options, whether we are looking at Class40 or IMOCA, with the suspense holding out until the end. This Coffee Race offered us some truly great winners with some highly emotional finishes on the pontoons in Fort-de-France. But this race also offered us some exceptional weather conditions, which put a lot of pressure on the organisers. We would like to congratulate all the teams for the quality of the decisions taken and their ability to adapt to the situation."

Antoine Robin, joint managing director of the Transat Jacques Vabre.

"This thirtieth anniversary edition was a huge popular success with a wealth of events in the village, which was highly appreciated by the public and those involved in ocean racing. The particular circumstances for the various starts meant that media interest and the interest of the general public were heightened. This enthusiasm was down to a fascinating scenario in the race, both for the two starts and during the battle out on the water. We were impressed to see just how excited the public was in Martinique, which offered a warm and enthusiastic welcome to each of the transatlantic heroes at the finish." 

Edouard Philippe, Mayor of Le Havre and Chairman of Le Havre Seine Métropole

“Thirty years ago, Le Havre took up a challenge: it wanted to become one of the major locations for sea sports, by allowing major ocean races to become part of the French scene. Today, it all looks so simple. For this thirtieth anniversary, we welcomed 620,000 visitors to the village. The race brought together 190 sailors, which is a record. I am proud of how far we have come and look forward to continuing down this path, looking ahead to the 2025 edition, which promises once again to be a great year.”

Vincent Prolongeau, Chairman of JDE France and Chairman of the Transat Jacques Vabre Association

“We can congratulate ourselves on just how long this has lasted. Over the past thirty years, the Coffee Route was built, rebuilt and perfected. We were bold enough to take everyone to what was once a land of coffee and to relaunch the sector with the Martinique RegionalNatural Park. We planted a seed, which developed during two transatlantic races and is now starting to grow. It is fantastic to sow and have something to harvest with each transatlantic race. This particular race was unusual because of the start and we should congratulate Francis Le Goff and the team of organisers for always taking the right decision, putting safety first as the cardinal value.”