Round Martinique

Race to take place in three stages this year

The Round Martinique Regatta (Tour de Martinique), created over 50 years ago and co-organised by the Yacht Club Neptune and the association Ven dan Vwèl 972 since 2014, was presented in Fort-de-France today. The event forms part of the Caribbean Sailing Association calendar of events and is federated by the French Sailing Federation.

Taking place over 13-15 February, the Round Martinique Regatta will gather over 30 entries above 24ft (7.30m), divided into five classes: Cruising, Racing, Melges, Cruising Multihulls and Surprises.

A three-stage race

New for 2015, the race will be split into three stages, running anticlockwise round Martinique. The competitors will leave from Fort de France on Friday, 13 February in the morning for the first stage finishing in Marin, where the crews will spend the first evening.

On 14 February, St Valentine's Day, they fleet will set off on the second stage bound for Robert. The final stage, the longest of the three, will see the competitors race from Robert to Fort-de-France and the finish line which they should reach on Sunday 15 February in time for the prizegiving, be hosted at the Club Nautique Neptune du Lamentin.

Confirmed skippers

Marc Emig, professional skipper and offshore sailor will sail on Ven Dan Vwèl Martinique, a boat which he has raced on for a number of years and which is due to arrive tonight having competed on the Transquadra 2015 race.

Talented local sailors, Régis Guillemot, Eric Baray, Nicolas Gillet and others will ensure the competition is tough in their class.

Rodolphe Sepho (Class 40) and Daniel Ecalard (Rum Class) who participated in the last Route du Rhum will also be taking part.

A prize will be awarded to the boat with the shortest elapsed time across the three stages of the race.

Bertrand de Broc, multiple Vendée Globe participant and very experienced offshore sailor is once more ambassador of the 2015 race and will participate for the second consecutive year: "This is an exceptional course with lots of tactics, navigation, and variable winds all at play. I loved the previous edition: sailing around this beautiful island and the great atmosphere amongst the crew both on the water and then on shore. All the elements were in place for me to come back."

All visiting boats will benefit from berthing on the new pontoons Marina Community of Z'abricot Harbour from 11 to 15 February. Shuttles (land/sea) will provide transportation to Morne Cabri Lamentin, where the Yacht Club Neputune du Lamentin has its base.

On Friday, 13 February 13, the start will be at 0900, given by the First Vice-President of the Region, Catherine Conconne and George Brival, the event's godfather. The start will be held close to shore at Pointe Simon and the Malecon in Fort-de-France. The fleet is expected to reach the Rocher du Diamant around 1100 and then Marin later that afternoon.

The Transquadra fleet will join the Round Martinique Regatta at the Rocher du Diamant for a sail and then evening crew drinks at the beach in Marin.

Saturday will see the start at 0900 from the Bay of St Anne in Marin. At approximately 1000 the fleet is expected at the Salines followed by a spinnaker finish in Robert Bay early in the afternoon.

On Sunday in Robert, the start will be at 0800 with the boats finishing at the Pointe de la Vierge in Fort de France from 1600.

Key partners: SGS / PetroServices, Region Martinique and CMT, the City of Lamentin and Martinique Première. SGS and PétroServices, main sponsors for the second year. Official partners: Traparinter, e-Company, Maximarine, North Sails and Régis Guillemot Charter.