The start of the 9th edition of the Transat ag2r took place on April 20, 2008 in The Bay of Biscay (Brittany, France). The only race on identical boats—all 31-foot Figaro Bénéteau sailboats—the fleet set out for Saint Barth and a three-week transatlantic voyage.
This year, 30 boats were on the starting line. The two-sailor teams included Figaro racing regulars such as Erwan Tabarly, Nicolas Troussel, and Antoine Koch, who returned to the Figaro circuit after two years of racing aboard multi-hulls. Other noted duos: Dominic Vittet/Armel Tripon, Thierry Chabagny/ Corentin Douguet, and also well-known skippers such as Jean Le Cam and teammate Gildas Morvan, who raced in the Transat for the sixth time, plus Bertrand de Broc with Joe Seeten as co-skipper. Eric Drouglazet, another regular holds the record with nine entries (every edition of the race). On of the surprises this year was the appearance of Englishman Phil Sharp—winner of the 2006 Route de Rhum—back in the Figaro Bénéteau 2 class, with his co-skipper, Czech sailor David Krizec (who came in third in the Mini 2007 series and has an eye on the 2008 Olympics). The women in the race included Jeanne Grégoire, Liz Wardley, and for the first time Elodie Riou.
An island resident for over 25 years, 57 year-old Luc Poupon participated in the Transat for the fifth time this year. A seasoned sailor, this Brittany native has navigated all the seas of the globe alongside the most well-known sailors: Florence Arthaud, Marc Guillemot, Jean Le Cam, Eric Tabarly, and of course his brother, Philou. He can no longer count the number of international races he has done (Transat Jacques Vabre, Fasnet, Tour of Europe, Whitbread aboard Pen Duick VI, Admiral Cup, Québec-St-Malo…) and he also participates in the Figaro circuit and many different Caribbean regattas (Heineken Regatta, Swan Rolex Cup, etc.). Aboard the trimaran, Fleury Michon 8, he beat the transatlantic racing record in 1987. For the 2008 edition of the Transat ag2r, he opted to sail Ronan Guérin from La Rochelle (a 35 year-old professional sailor from France who lives in Saint Martin with this wife, and who knows the Port of Gustavia rather well as this marked his fifth entry into the Transat). Although they were sailing together for the first time, the two sailors knew and admired each other for quite some time, having frequently sailed in the same races.
A sailor from the Finistere region of France, Eric Péron started sailing on small boats before graduating to First Class 8 and Mumm 30. He participated in the Transat for the first time in 2004, and then sailed in the Générali Solo. For the past four years, this 27 year-old sailor has flirted with high-level international racing: Fasnet and Nieuwpoort Channel Race on a 60-footer, and has participated in numerous solo events and team races in the Figaro Circuit.
In The Bay of Biscay, the fleet spread out in longitude as they decided which direction to take as far as the buoy at Maderia. After three boats abandoned the race, the 28 duos still on course had to choose the classic northern route across the Atlantic, or opt for a more daring route to the south, as they all sought to reach the trade winds. While the majority of the boats stayed to the north as they headed to Saint Barth, those who were daring enough to head south seemed to be falling behind. However, the pendulum began to swing when the winds in the north never materialized and those to the south found themselves in a better position of attack as they approached Saint Barth… and win the race.
Luc Poupon, Jean-Paul Mouren,
Laurent Pellecuer and Ronan Guérin
On may 13 at 3:55am, after 22 days and 19 hours at sea, the team SNEF et Cliptol Sport, with skipper Jean-Paul Mouren and Laurent Pellecuer, crossed the finish line in Gustavia, followed at 7:45am by the team of Luc Poupon/Ronan Guérin. Just 24 minutes later, Concarneau/St-Barth, skippered by Miguel Danet and Eric Péron, anchored at the Quai Général de Gaulle, with a large, enthusiastic crowd on hand to welcome them. Cercle Vert and Banque Populaire, having followed a more central route, came in fourth and fifth. Financo, the first of the northern boats, came in 13th, 29 hours after the winner. The last boat crossed the finish line on May 15 at 7:13am, with David Krizek and Phil Sharp, who had stuck to the northern route the longest and lost. The record time for the race established by Kito de Pavant and Pietro d’Ali in 2006—20 days, 8 hours, 49 minutes and 3 seconds—still stands.
Final results for the race: www.transat-ag2r.com
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...
