RETOUR À LA BASE
The idea is to turn the ‘Retour à La Base’ into a singlehanded event that forms part of the IMOCA Globe Series Championship in November 2023, where it will serve as a qualifier for the Vendée Globe 2024-25.
In 2021, following the Transat Jacques Vabre, Lorient Grand Large organised a return by sea, in the form of a rally, double-handed or with a crew, as a prelude to a more ambitious project in two years' time.
The principle is simple. A starting line, located in the north of the island, will be open from 27 November for several days. Everyone will be able to start whenever they want. The stopwatch will be started at the start and stopped when the finish line is crossed, at the entrance to Lorient harbour. The crews that cross the harbour the fastest will be rewarded. During their crossing, the boats will be able to be followed live on a map as well as through the news of each crew. The proposal is intended to be easy to implement for the sailors, with the desire to extend this beautiful 2021 season a little further.
Lorient Agglomération has affirmed its desire to include Lorient in the calendar of major ocean races. Creating its own IMOCA single-handed transatlantic race and making it a permanent one is therefore a good bet.