Jo Royle to sail Route de Elissa

Pindar's Volvo 60 skipper takes part in women's offshore race in the Mediterranean

Today, Jo Royle, Pindar Ocean Racing’s Volvo 60 skipper, will join 30 women representing eight different European countries to set sail for the third edition of the offshore yacht race the 'Route de Elissa'. The Route De Elissa which takes the fleet from Tunisia to Italy, is the only all female offshore race in Europe, and has important and interesting historical foundations, carrying a message of European unity in memory of Princess Elissia of Lebanon, founder of Tunisia and the creator of Cartage, Tunisia.

Approximately 2,000 years ago Princess Elissa, her family and countrymen were forced to flee their home country of Lebanon. Led by Princess Elissia they set sail to an unknown land, not aware she would become the creator of the Mediterranean’s first finest civilised city, Cartage, Tunisia. For five centuries the city of Cartage remained as the Mediterranean’s richest city, until the Roman Empire hijacked the city as it posed a threat to Roma, this saw the start of the Punic War. For 300 years the people of Cartage battled to keep their beautiful land, until eventually the Roman Emperor ordered his soldiers to burn the City.

The race originally started in Beirut, Lebanon, but due to the current political unrest in the city, this year’s edition will not visit the country, instead starting from Tunisia. Jo is sailing with the French team skippered by Frederique Brule. They will race alongside teams from Monaco (lead by Florence Arthaud), Lebanon (lead by Alexia Barrier), Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. The fleet will leave the Tunisian port of Sidi Bou Said on the 25 July, and is expected to arrive in Roma, Italy on the 29 July.

Jo Royle commented: “Given that there has been over 2,000 years of war in Mediterranean Europe, it has been really interesting to prepare for this race alongside girls from so many different backgrounds here in Tunisia. The philosophy of carrying a message of peace is very strong, as is the competition on the water .”