IMOCA announce calendar

Open 60 program to include Calais Round Britain, European Tour and the Transat Jacques Vabre

IMOCA (International Monohull Open Class Association), the Open 60 class association has confirmed its official 2009 race calendar.

As the International fleet continues to expand year on year, IMOCA knows that capitalising on the continued growth and success of the Class depends largely upon the sponsors and International markets it can attract. With France firmly secured and at the heart of the Open 60 racing circuit, the Class’ success has grown substantially in the UK over the past eight years. IMOCA Vice President Mike Golding has been leading the way and the number of British Open 60 sailors continues to increase. Spain is the latest nation to embrace the IMOCA circuit with the Barcelona World Race taking place every four years.

Turkey is the most recent country to invest in the Class, enabling the inaugural European Protour race to start from Istanbul this August. The European Pro Tour is a crewed race, aimed at amalgamating the key European markets of IMOCA within one event.

IMOCA is delighted to have sponsored the ‘Toe In The Water’ reception at the London Boat Show and wishes IMOCA Open 60 sailor Steve White the best of luck in his remaining weeks at sea in the Vendée Globe.

2009 IMOCA Open 60 Calendar

30 April – 3 May Grand Prix Petit Navire

21 June Calais Round Britain – crewed race around Britain, starting and finishing in Calais

29 August European Pro Tour Istanbul, Turkey – Nice, France
9 September European Pro Tour Nice – Barcelona, Spain
14 September European Pro Tour Barcelona – UK*
27 September European Pro Tour UK – Brest, France
* Port to be announced soon

7 November Transat Jacques Vabre Le Havre – Costa Rica, doublehanded