Racing to the Congo for charity

The Matondo Congo-Route de l’équateur sets sail from Marseille on 15 April

On Sunday 15 April at 1500, the crews will set sail on the second edition of Matondo Congo-Route de l’équateur. As two years ago, when it was won by Sebastien Josse's ABN AMRO Two crew, the 4,500 mile long route will see the boats leave Marseille and head out of the Mediterranean past Gibraltar and then south past the Canary Islands, across the equator and on to the finish line in the Congo after around 25 days at sea.

Aside from re-affirming relations between France and the Congo (Congo accommodated the government of Free France during WW2), the race is being run in support of charities in the Congo, particularly those working with children. Alongside th race, the organisers are holding a 'Draw a boat competition' and will be supplying 10,000 pens and extra school equipment. They also plan to supply medical equipment and around 20,000 mosquito nets. The various 'name' competitors taking part will be carrying the colours of the various organisations supplying these contributions.

The race is being competed in Class 40s and will feature some of the biggest names in French offshore yachting including Philippe Monnet, Florence Arthaud, Patrice Carpentier, Roxy helms Anne Liardet and Alexia Barrier and Fred Brule. Anne Liardet's crew will be all female while those of Florence Arthaud and Fred Brule will be mixed.

The teams

1 – Anne Liardet – Marie Riou – Caroline Barbarin
2 – Patrice Carpentier – Adrien Monsempès – Benoît Lenglet
3 – Philippe Monnet - Arnaud Vasseur - Eric Dhooge – Laurent Massot
4 – Florence Arthaud – Alexia Barrier - Luc Poupon
5 – Philippe Naudin – Antoine Carpentier - Arnaud Aubry
6 – Frédérique Brulé - Thomas Roche – Manu Fontaine
7 – Philippe Fiston - Marc Lepesqueux – Stanislas Maslard
8 – Louis Tannyères – Emmanuelle Bouedec – Hugues Bousquet – Nicolas Boucher