European Pro Tour announce dates

Details emerge of the first IMOCA round Europe race

Following last week's meeting in Barcelona, so the modified dates for the IMOCA Open 60 fleet's European Pro Tour 2009 have been announced.

Organised by Olay Nautic Istanbul, the event will now started on 29 August and will finish in Brest in September with two stops in Nice and Barcelona and a possible third in Portsmouth, in the UK.

Running the organization, Cumali Varer is well known to sailors from the Figaro Bénéteau circuit having organised three editions of the Cap Istanbul race.

While it was announced some month ago, the European Pro Tour was nearly derailed suffering from a small number of participants and the economic crisis that has affected many sailing teams' budgets. However, thanks to the combined efforts of Olay Nautic, the IMOCA class and some competitors particularly keen to see the class' first round Europe race take place, so the European Pro Tour is set to include a high calibre entry including Michel Desjoyeaux, Roland Jourdain, Kito de Pavant, Jean-Pierre Dick, Guillermo Altadill, Alex Pella, Marc Thiercelin and Dee Caffari - in short eight competitors representing three nations.

For Varer Cumali organizer, this confirmation of entries has been essential: "In the current economic climate, we must stick together. Whether we are organizers, competitors, a class association or owners, we all need each other. I would also like to thank those who have supported us but first of all the host cities: Istanbul, Nice, Barcelona and Brest. The route between these four ports will be superb and the fight for victory intense throughout its 4,500 nautical miles. To date, the call of Portsmouth is not confirmed. It would be only if at least three British competitors are starting in Istanbul, which is currently not the case."

Jean Maurel and under the authority of the French Sailing Federation, the FFV, will be Race Director for the event. "It will be interesting to see, in these circumstances, if we find the same hierarchy as when the boats are sailed alone. Will it again be a Farr design that prevails or VPLP/Verdier or a Lombard?" mused Maurel before he continued: "The sea and wind conditions will also be very different between the Aegean, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. To win, teams will have to be good in all these conditions and also manage the transitions between them. The race will be exciting."

Dominique Wavre, President of IMOCA agrees: "The European Pro Tour is an important opportunity for IMOCA to increase its globalisation. It must be run every two years. It's never easy to create a new race, yet we see that despite the difficult economic climate, many teams are present. This is encouraging for the future. We are on the side of the organiser, Olay Nautic and we will help the make the race smooth running."

As for the double winner of the Vendée Globe, Michel Desjoyeaux, he says: "It pleases me a lot to go there because I've never sailed in the Cyclades. It is going be a good opportunity to go even if it is not to sight see! What I like about the European Pro Tour will be the sailing, because I think we do not compete enough in these beautiful boats. And in addition, we get to sail them with the team. It's great. "

Pre-registered entries as of 21 April 2009:
1. Foncia / Michel Desjoyeaux
2. Groupe Bel / Kito de Pavant
3. Veolia / Roland Jourdain
4. DCNS / Marc Thiercelin
5. Virbac-Paprec / Jean-Pierre Dick
6. Estrella Dam / Guillermo Altadill
7. Gaes / Albert Bargues
8. Aviva / Dee Caffari (tbc)


The stops:
1. Istanbul: Arrival - 22 August, prologue - 28 August - departure down the Bosphorus - 29 August
2. Nice: Arrival - 4 September, Nice Trophy - 7 September - start of the leg two - 8 September
3. Barcelona: Arrival - 10 September, Trophy of Barcelona - 12 September, start of leg three - 14 September
4. Portsmouth: Arrival - 22 September, Portsmouth Trophy - 26 September, start of final leg - 27 September
5. Brest: Arrival: 30 September. Brest Trophy on 3 October, Prizegiving - 4 October