We never seem to tire of the Lorient/St. Barth transatlantic race. It’s a sailing competition that has all the right ingredients for attracting public attention. The vehicle, identical for all teams, is a 30-foot Beneteau Figaro monohull. Each team is composed of two experienced sailors, some of whom are among the most highly skilled- and most recognizable-skippers in the world. Finally, the race is broken down into two parts. The first portion of the course runs from Lorient, a western seaport in Brittany, to Madeira and includes the hairy passage through the Gulf of Gascogny. The latter portion goes the distance, from Madeira to St. Barth, and requires knowing how to dodge or deal with the doldrums until hitting the clement trade winds.
The race was first held in 1992. By obliging all competitors to sail on one standardized sailing boat, it factored out all differences and reduced the competition down to a matter of sheer skill. The race has occurred every other year since, and has often been used by some of France’s best sailors to catapult themselves into higher ‘ground’. Michel Desjoyeuaux, Jean Le Cam, Roland Jourdain, Catherine Chabaud, Karine Fauconnier are some of the young sailors to have been initiated into the race’s inner circle, joining more experienced skippers like Philippe Poupon, Florence Arthaud, Yves Parlier, Isabelle Autissier. Occasionally, the skippers sail in, though on more modest vessels than the ones they navigate professionally.
For St. Barth race fans, this year is particularly exciting because there are two local entries. One is St. Barth Assurances, navigated by Markku Harmala, a young Finnish man who has settled on the island and married a local woman. His partner, Richard Ledee, is the grandson of Hyppolite Ledee, one of the island’s buisness pioneers. Markku and Richard are sailing together in this race for the second time.
The other St. Barth entry, Avis Isle de St-Barthelemy, is being helmed by Luc Poupon, who used to be a member of Eric Tabarly’s crew, and Jeff Ledee, one of the youngest, and greenest, participants in the race. He is making his virgin Atlantic crossing.
Ask the people here, though, and you'll find that there are actually two races: the official race, and the race within the race, which boils down to the duel between the two local teams. "One of our objectives is to get to St. Barth before Lucky and Jeff", admitted Markku the night before the start of the race, on April 14. "And, we want to get there ahead of the second place winners," retorted Lucky Poupon, who has sailed across the Atlantic more times than he has toured the island. Aside from the surface rivalry, there is also a deep bond between the four St. Barth sailors, not the least of which is the intense ambition to win or place well. Just before the race, their boats floated peacefully side by side on the pontoon just, waiting to hit the high sea.
Aside from its athletic component, the AG2R Lorient/Transat race is considered an important marketing tool, an event capable of attracting tourism and promoting St. Barth as a travel destination. Hotels got in on the ground floor, and throughout the year, have participated by offering free hotel rooms to race sponsors and members of the press. This year, at the start of the race, the St. Barth Tourism Office had set up a stand within the race village to provide practical information about the island and treat visitors to the local rum drink, the ‘ti ponch. A one-week trip for two to St. Barth was also raffled off as part of a promotional event sponsored by French travel agencies and the two municipal race sponsors.
Now that the boats have set sail, the entire island is preparing for their arrival, estimated in Gustavia Port sometime between May 10 and 12. One of the great perks of the race for the skippers, once they’ve completed their job, is to hang out for one week in the Caribbean with family and/or friends. For our St. Barth sailors, it’s even better. Its the joy of coming home to their island and being embraced by their people as local heroes.
Yves Bourel
Beyonce and Jay-Z have taken their daughter on her first vacation. The couple, who celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary last week, have been enjoying the sunshine on the Caribbean island of St. Barts with three-month-old Blue Ivy over the weekend, and took the tot for a day trip on a yacht.
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Kick-off Les Voiles de Saint Barth 2012 Caribbean regatta in the magical French West Indies sailing paradise!
Today the prestigious and top-class Caribbean sailing regatta Les Voiles de St. Barth 2012 with Gaastra Sportswear as the official partner starts: At the third edition run...
Inside the Bucket.
This video features the 2012 St Barths Bucket Regatta and music by the Evan Goodrow Band. Special thanks to the entire crew of the Rebecca, Baz Bar, St Barths Online and the guys from the Evan Goodrow Band for putting on a fantastic show. The song from the Evan Goodrow Band is c...
On board with Rebecca.
The best event in St Barths took place on March 24 - 27, 2012. This video features the beautiful 141 ft sailing yacht, The Rebecca.
produced by Real Media Travel for St. Barths Online and Baz Bar St Barth.
The age old saying of "I need a holiday to get over my holiday" actually seems applicable if you happen to be Paul McCartney.
The Beatle took wife Nancy Shevell on a romantic break to the Caribbean island of St Barts, just days after the pair visited Paris.
Last week, the lovebirds showed support ...
On the day their pregnancy news was announced, Thor star Chris Hemsworth, 28, and Elsa Pataky, 35, were seen in sunny St. Barts, France on Wednesday (January 18). The Fast Five actress looked lovely in blue, sporting her beautiful baby bump.
Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky
Chris and Elsa - w...
She might be 44, but Tamara Mellon still boasts a figure that women half her age would be proud of.
The Jimmy Choo co-founder showed off her toned figure in a sexy animal-print bikini as she hit the beach with her daughter in St Barts yesterday.
The skimpy string two-piece highlighted Tamara's env...
With almost every other celebrity couple enjoying the New Year in exotic locations, Gary and Danielle Lineker weren't going to be any different.
The married couple were spotted enjoying a romantic walk along a beach in St Barts today - and looked very much in love.
Gary, 51 and his wife, 32, had o...
Which beaches to choose?
The glamorous island of St Barts is one of the Caribbean's top beach destinations. Ringing the island are immaculate strips of sand and ethereal turquoise waters. The shallow reefs that encircle the island help to protect these renowned beaches, and they also provide excell...
St. Barts, Why Not?
Since the wealthy and celebrated frequently visit St. Barts for a tropical vacation, you will find that many plush St. Barts Resorts can be found on this stunning island. For those taking St. Barts holidays, it is simple to find hotels with each luxury available. Frequently thes...
Vacation With the Rich and Famous at St. Barts.
Want to bump into celebrities and be seen hanging out where the rich and famous play? Then the Caribbean island of St. Barts is the place to be.
While warm sand and blue waters do make an ideal vacation location, this destination has that and a whol...
Where to go for one day in Caribbean?
St. Maarten / St. Martin
The half-Dutch, half-French island of St. Maarten/St. Martin, with its many restaurants and hotels, makes a great base for an island-hopping adventure. Graced by the nickname Unspoiled Queen, tiny little Saba is not the kind of Caribbe...
Villa La Plage in St Barts.
The posh French resort isle of St. Barth's was already a prize destination when Roman Abramovich purchased an estate there for $89 million in 2009; since the oligarch arrived it has become even more so.
Now Christie's International Real Estate has listed another impres...
Baywatch in St Barts.
Making it official after five years of engagement, Brooke Burke and beau David Charvet have reportedly tied the knot while yachting in St. Barts.
According to Life & Style, the "Dancing with the Stars" host and the former "Baywatch" hunk, who have been vacationing in the...
St. Barth Summer Sessions Aug. 5-15, 2011
St Barth Summer Sessions 2011 this year will have a focus on artists from Brazil. The festival will take place at a variety of different venues all over the island, and in the end of the festival there will be a big common concert in the Harbor of Gustavia ...
The Eclipse, no ordinary yacht.
It probably hasn't escaped your attention that, with modern methods of transport, measuring and telecommunication, no "terra incognita" is safe from the crazed enthusiasm of certain explorers of scientists. Everything has already been discovered and minutely placed o...
Ashley Rodriguez Trio
Ashley Rodriguez, one of the famous finalist from the American Idol 2010 is back in St Barth between May 5-15. Ashley was participating last summer for the St Barth Summer Session in august 2010 at La Plage and she will now come with her 'All Girls Band', Liz on the guitar ...
The La Plage restaurant introduce :
ST BARTH SUMMER SESSIONS
« 5 to 15 august 2010, 10 days of crazy music ! »
Festival program
La Plage St Jean Tel: 0590 52 81 33 Email: tombeach@wanadoo.fr Site: www.stbarthsummersessions.com
THE GREAT FISH DEBATE There seems to be a bone of contention among a few of my friends. Fine folks who love some of the finer things in life, such as Dover Sole That flat fish floating in butter and capers. Known in French as Sole Meunière, it is made from what is called in European fisherman ver...
