Chocolate race

New Class 40 race announced, doublehanded to the Yucatan in Mexico

La Solidaire du Chocolat, a new event for the Class 40s, will take place next autumn, sailed two handed on a course from Nantes/Saint-Nazaire to the Yucatán in Mexico.

Starting on 18 October 2009, the race will offer strong support to numerous charities, both in media and financial terms. Though just launched, the Solidaire du Chocolat already has the support of skippers, charities, personalities, patrons, and public and private sponsors. "It’s the start of a beautiful human adventure," said Yves Gillet, President of the Solidaire du Chocolat Association.

Based on an original idea of Race Organiser Damien Grimont, usually skipper of the Class 40 Chocolats Monbana and also creator of the Record SNSM, the Solidaire du Chocolat will be more than just a yacht race: "This is the first time that a charitable challenge unites competitors, sponsors, charities and patrons around a clear humanitarian approach.

The charities represented at the launch included Sport Sans Frontières, Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque, Max Havelaar, and Les toiles enchantées. Not only do they welcome the initiative, but they are joining forces with the organisers, in the search for patrons, who will bring concrete support in the form of  donations of 25,000 euros apiece.

Each team will support a strong and relevant charitable project, allied with a patron who undertakes to donate  25000 € to that charity.

30 competitors have already registered their intention to take part in La Solidaire du Chocolat. The course between Nantes/Saint-Nazaire to Progreso, Yucatán/Mexico is 5000 nautical miles long, double-handed and non-stop.

In Nantes over 10-18 October prior to the start there will be packed programme of festivities, including the Nuit du Chocolat, a parade down the Loire, the Grand Choc’ exhibition in Saint-Nazaire, concerts, films, activities, games, live shows, competitions, workshops and an educational programme.

Joël Batteux, Vice president of the Pays de la Loire region and mayor of Saint-Nazaire: "It’s not the first time that Damien Grimont has had a good idea, but when he outlined this chocolate-themed project, I was sold on it straightaway, and the regional  public institutions came on board immediately. The tagline of our region is « l’esprit grand ouvert » (“mind wide open”), and we shall demonstrate this with this amazing event. Moreover, the spirit of innovation is at the heart of our priorities, and this is clearly an entirely new concept. And lastly, unfortunately our region does not currently have the image it should of a great maritime region in its rightful place in the national maritime economy. This event provides the opportunity to reverse that trend."

Tanguy De Lamotte, skipper of Novédia, flying the flag for Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque commented: "At last a transatlantic race  exclusively for Class40, enabling us to race together while promoting the humanitarian values of the class".

Of significance is that the Route du Chocolat conflicts with the Transat Jacques Vabre.