10 line up for new solo transat

After the briefest of respites, the Open 60 is set to race back from Brazil singlehanded later this month.

The Défi Atlantique, the Open 60 class' new transatlantic race from west to east sets sail from Salvador de Bahia on 30 November bound for La Rochelle where the boats are due on around 18 December.

Organised by the Grand Pavois Organisation with support from the Région Poitou-Charentes and the Département de la Charente-Maritime, le Défi Atlantique is a qualifier for next year's Vendee Globe.

10 skippers look set to take the start line of this 4,100 mile return race from the finish of the Transat Jacques Vabre:

Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac / France)
Mike Golding (Ecover / GB)
Charles Hedrich (France)
Sébastien Josse (V.M.I. / France)
Antoine Koch (Loire Atlantique / France)
Nick Moloney (Team Cowes - Australia)
Benoît Parnaudeau (Colibri - Charente-Maritime / France)
Vincent Riou (PRB / France)
Joë Seeten (Arcelor - Dunkerque / France)
Alex Thomson (Sill / GB)

Charles Hedrich, who dismasted on Objectif 3 in the Transat Jacques Vabre is looking for a boat in which to compete in the Défi Atlantique.

The course back up the Atlantic from Brazil to La Rochelle has the advantage that is to some extent mimics the last stage of the Vendee Globe course. This will see them having to deal with the adverse winds and currents sailing up the coast of Brazil, the choice of where best to cross the Doldrums and then finally how to tackle the Azores high.

From 5-15 December, Le Défi Atlantique will be exhibiting at the Salon Nautique boat show in Paris from where the race will be run, complete with 'radio vacations' - where the public can hear the daily conversations with the skippers. These will take place between 11-12 each day.

The arrival village in La Rochelle will be set up from 16-22 December, situated in the Bassin des Chalutiers. At an average speed of 9.5 knots the boats ETA is 18 December.

The prize giving will take place in La Rochelle on 22 December 2003