Clarisse Cremer takes on her first Transat CIC!
Quick facts:
The next Transat CIC starts at 1330 CET, 28 April 2024 Lorient to New York
3500 nautical miles
Held every 4 years
Raced solo across 3 classes of yacht
Originally known as the Transat Anglaise This will be Clarisse’s first Transat CIC
A fascinating race history:
In the late 1950’s a group of British sailors dreamt up the idea of racing solo across the North Atlantic from the UK to USA. Everyone thought they were mad – saying it would not be possible to survive a westward crossing of the Atlantic due to the fact they would be sailing mainly into prevailing winds and storms. From a ‘crazy’ idea the ‘Transat Anglaise’ was born and in 1960, five intrepid skippers set off each alone on their boats from Plymouth, equipped with only sextants and compasses to navigate. After 40 days at sea Francis Chichester crossed the line in first place.
The next edition in 1964 was won by Eric Tabarly in 27 days and this win is credited with igniting the passion for sailing in France and in particular sailing solo. Today in Lorient it is impossible not to notice Tabarly’s effect on subsequent generations of amateur and professional sailors.
14 editions of the race have taken place, there has been controversy, tragedy, furious conditions, daring rescues and a range of vessels have competed – heroes have been created alongside legendary stories of battles with the external elements and internal minds of the exhausted sailors.
To learn more about the fascinating history of this race: https://www.thetransat.com/en/history
The race today – Transat CIC 2024
The Transat CIC 2024 sets sail from Lorient, France, on April 28th, to the city of New York. There are 3 classes participating in this edition, 33 x IMOCA’s, 13 x Class 40’s and 2 x Vintage yachts. A total of 48 skippers will start the next edition of this historic and notoriously difficult race.
Due to the northerly route and time of year this race is usually dominated by several low-pressure systems sweeping across the North Atlantic, creating strong headwinds. These upwind conditions are punishing for both the competitors and their boats, as they slam their way into the wind and waves.
Clarisse and the Transat CIC
There was no edition of this race in 2020 due to the pandemic and therefore Clarisse did not take part when she was preparing for her first Vendée Globe. This will therefore be her first edition of the race and most likely the toughest of the four Transatlantic races she must race in to finalize her qualification for the Vendee Globe 2024. She is one of around only 20 skippers entered for both IMOCA Transatlantic races this year and one of the five female skippers in the Transat CIC.
How to follow the race
Tracker: To follow the thrilling action of The Transat CIC in real-time, an interactive map is available on the official race website: https://thetransat.geovoile.com/2024/tracker/ This platform allows you to track Clarisse and the rest of the fleet across the pond.
L’Occitane Sailing Team social media: as Clarisse sends us updates and videos of life onboard, we will share with you across our channels. Feel free to send her messages of encouragement via our Instagram, Facebook and Twitter feeds.
Take part! Virtual Regatta : For those who wish to experience The Transat CIC virtually, Virtual Regatta will give them the opportunity to do so. On the mobile app or the game's website, you can participate in the virtual race in the IMOCA category, with a realistic interface and real-time weather conditions. More info on www.virtualregata.com