With just two years before the next The Transat CIC race, OC Sport Pen Duick and CIC are delighted to announce that the city of Lorient and Greater Lorient will host the events and final preparations for the oldest solo transatlantic race.

Considered the mother of all single-handed ocean races, the home port and final ports have changed over time but the event has never lost its magic and excitement. One person, one boat, and the ocean! Since 1960, The Transat CIC, formerly the English Transat, a demanding solo race of more than 3000 miles across the North Atlantic Ocean between Europe and America, has departed every four years in spring. The biggest names in sailing, from Chichester to Tabarly, as well as Colas, Poupon, Peyron, Joyon and Gabart, have all taken on this immense challenge.

Lorient and the region of Brittany will host the preparatory events and send-off

In 2020, as preparations were underway for the 60th anniversary of The Transat CIC, the organizer, OC Sport Pen Duick, and the title partner CIC, together with the institutional and private supporters of the race were forced to cancel it just a few weeks before departure because of the pandemic. The next meeting was scheduled for four years later. Selected as the set-off point for the 2024 and 2028 events, Lorient will set the scene for the next chapter in the race's history.

This is a port that many of the competitors are already familiar with. Lorient and the region of Brittany enjoy years of experience in hosting races and embracing innovation, and will provide a spectacular launch pad for the challenge. Lorient was a natural choice given that the economic fabric of the region and its infrastructures are designed around the sea and the organization and hosting of major events. The elected representatives of Greater Lorient are keen to see the city and the entire region back at the center of such major ocean events. The port of arrival in North America will be confirmed shortly.

A major sports event in 2024

Accommodating different classes and categories of boats, both monohulls and multihulls, The Transat CIC race is already shaping up as a landmark event in 2024. The list of eligible categories will be confirmed in the race notice, but for many skippers, this is a race not to be missed. Particularly so for the IMOCA class, as this event will be its last ocean race and test event before the Vendée Globe. The highly-rated Ocean Fifty and Class40 will also be keen to take the challenge.
As OC Sport Pen Duick and all of the skippers hoping to set out on The Transat CIC revel at the announced departure from Lorient in 2024 and as local players get ready, none of it would have been possible without the main partners. In 2020, CIC and the region of Brittany reassured the organizers that they would continue working to support the event.

Thanks to their loyalty and commitment, everything can now be confidently put in place to create a new chapter in the race’s history.

See you in Lorient in 2024!

Comments:

Joseph Bizard, Chief Executive Officer of OC Sport Pen Duick: “After canceling the 2020 edition of The Transat CIC, once the initial frustration had passed, we immediately got together with our partners to ensure the 2024 edition would be a success. This momentum has continued apace. There are few challenges like The Transat CIC. It is one of the greatest and most unique ocean races and a prominent city was needed for set-off. The elected directors saw in Lorient a fierce determination to host and participate in an event like The Transat CIC. Lorient, the region of Brittany and CIC offer all of the magnitude this race deserves. It is an opportunity for us, the organizers, to set course for the 2024 edition knowing that we have everything we need to make it a success, for the skippers and the public alike.”

Daniel Baal, Chief Executive Officer of CIC: “Given CIC's affinity with Brittany, its commitment to the region’s economic fabric and its knowledge of the quality of its maritime infrastructures, it immediately saw Lorient as the perfect launch pad for The Transat CIC, which we are all eager to see underway. Our teams will be on hand for this big sporting event. Roll on 2024! “

Fabrice Loher, President of the regional council of Greater Lorient and Mayor of the city of Lorient: “I am delighted to announce that Lorient will be the starting point for the next two The Transat CIC races. It is a great pleasure for us to take over from the city of Brest and host this event, during which we will also have the opportunity to celebrate the 60-year anniversary of Eric Tabarly's win”.

Loïg Chesnais-Girard, President of the regional council of Brittany: “After being forced to cancel the 2020 event, I am delighted to see The Transat CIC race will take place in 2024. This is one of the biggest and toughest solo ocean races on the circuit, at more than 3000 miles across the North Atlantic, of which Eric Tabarly was an early victor. It will be a great pleasure to see his successors take off from the port of Lorient, a host region with firm credentials in terms of infrastructures and openness to innovation, with the support of the region of Brittany as the main partner. Open to all categories of boat, this race is a very popular sports event and festival enjoyed by all in Brittany and lovers of the former English Transat. The region of Brittany will once again work alongside the organizers to open a new chapter in this historic race”.