New Vendee Globe feeder race

New race from New York agreed at IMOCA AGM

At yesterday's IMOCA AGM, a new event was added to the IMOCA Ocean Masters World Championship - a singlehanded race from New York to Les Sables d’Olonne.

This is designed to be a return event from the OSTAR/Transat finish in the USA, leaving the boats in the host port of the Vendée Globe. 

The programme for the IMOCA Ocean Masters World Championship

Rolex Fastnet Race (double-handed), Cowes – Plymouth (GB), start 16 August 2015
Transat Jacques Vabre (double-handed), Le Havre – Itajai (BR), start 25 October 2015
Transat B to B (single-handed), Saint Barts – Roscoff, start 6 December 2015
Transat New York to Les Sables d’Olonne (single-handed), start 29 May 2016
Vendée Globe (single-handed), start 6 November 2016

At the meeting IMOCA's three outgoing advisors were reappointed - Jean Kerhoas, Alex Thomson and Marc Guillemot. Jérémie Beyou has joined the Executive Committee as a replacement for Bernard Stamm.

Jean Kerhoas, President of IMOCA commented: “This General Meeting testifies to the maturity of the IMOCA Class: we’ve had some excellent, lively discussion, where everyone involved has taken the time to listen to what the others had to say. This AGM has confirmed the fact that in a year’s time, we’ll study the class measurement rules to be implemented after the Vendée Globe. The programme for the next two years is coherent. The best possible indication of the IMOCA Class vitality is that we’ve had some lively, but warm debates in the meeting, with all the racers going on to adopt a common line.”

Sir Keith Mills, President of the OSM: “I applaud the decision of the General Meeting to validate our strategy of establishing a spring race as a warm-up to the round the world race which concludes each Championship. As the New York to Barcelona Race (June 2014) served as preparation for the Barcelona World Race, so the New York to Les Sables d’Olonne (June 2016) will be the final springboard for the Vendée Globe. This 100% IMOCA race guarantees us a stable, solid event schedule, setting sail from what is an extremely attractive city for our partners and the media, bound for a symbolic venue in ocean racing terms which will give us a fitting welcome less than six months prior to the start of the star event in our 2015-2016 Championship.

"This is a key investment in our bid to consolidate the IMOCA Ocean Masters World Championship, improving legibility and thus strengthening the trust of our team and their partners.”