Quebec-St Malo announced

Quadrennial return race back across the Atlantic from the end of the Transat

The Transat Québec-Saint-Malo will get underway on 11 July 2004 from Quebec City, Canada. This one-of-a-kind yacht race attracts the world’s top skippers and their Formula Ones of the ocean wave back up the St Lawrence River every four year.

This, the sixth race, was announced by Jacques Gingras, president of Voile Internationale Québec, today at the opening of Montreal Boat Show.

The 2004 race will see a new approach, geared more towards the general public. For the ten days leading up to the start of the Transat, a wide range of activities and festivities will be held around the Port of Quebec, all with a maritime theme. "This great maritime rendez-vous will reach out not only to sailing and high calibre sporting event enthusiasts, but also to all those, young and old alike, who simply wish to celebrate the sea," said Gingras.

Visitor attendance to the Quebec-St Malo site is expected to top 200,000 this July.

Transat Québec/Saint-Malo holds a unique place in the FICO-Lacoste World Championship as it is the only fully crewed transatlantic race. It is open to Open class boats from 45.1 to 60ft (12.85-18.28m) and 45.1-85ft (12.85-26m) monohulls.

The tradition race back from the end of the OSTAR/Transat it is also mainly downwind. 3,000 nautical miles (5370 km) from start to finish, the first 400 miles (740 km) sees the boats racing down the St. Lawrence River, providing the public ample vantage points from which to admire the boats in full racing action. Mandatory check points must be passed at Matane, Gaspé, Percé, Îles-de-la-Madeleine and Saint-Pierre et Miquelon.

The leaders are expected to reach Saint Malo approximately eight days after the start. The seaside town has planned an program of entertainment to welcome these modern-day emulators of Jacques Cartier, a native of Saint Malo and the discoverer of Canada in 1534.

The first running of the Transat Québec/Saint-Malo was held in 1984 to celebrate the 450th anniversary of the discovery and the close ties that have developed between these two maritime cities.