25 boats for the Transat AG2R La Mondiale

Figaro class' transatlantic race to set sail from Concarneau on 18 April

The 25 crews competing in the Figaro class’ biennial doublehanded Transat AG2R La Mondiale were presented in Paris yesterday alongside Yvon Breton, Managing Director of AG2R La Mondiale, Pierre Bojic, Managing Director of race organizers Pen Duick, André Fidelin, the Mayor of Concarneau, Jean-François Garrec, President of the CCI of Quimper Cornouaille, Jean-Pierre Champion, President of the FFV and Henri Graveleau, President of the Figaro-Bénéteau class.

The race starts from Concarneau on 18 April.

Among the sailors were past winners such as Jean le Cam (1994), Armel Cléac'h and Nicolas Troussel (2004), Kito de Pavant (2006), Laurent Pellecuer and Jean-Paul Mouren the reigning victors who are returning to defend their title.

Several of the crews have reformed – including the second placed finishers from the 2002 race, Gildas Morvan and Bertrand le Broc aboard Cercle Vert, while after her third place in the 2006 race Banque Populaire skipper Jeanne Gregoire is once again sailing with Gerald Veniard. The Livory brothers, Yannig and Erwan, 17th in the last race, have also chosen to sail together again together on Garmin-One Network Energies.

Some who have sailed together in the past are now racing on separate boats. The 2008 winners, Laurent Pellecuer and Jean-Paul Mouren, , will sail respectively with Eric Drouglazet and Paul Meilhat. Eric Péron and Miguel Danet, who were third in 2008, are racing with Gwen Riou and Damien Cloarec respectively, while the 2004 winners Armel Cleac'h and Nicolas Troussel, are sailing with Fabien Delahaye and Thomas Rouxel.

Among the new teams in this year’s Transat AG2R La Mondiale are double Velux 5 Oceans winner Bernard Stamm and Gildas Mahé on Cheminees Poujoulat, Mini turned Figaro sailor Henri-Paul Schipman and Pierre Canevet on Maisons de l'Avenir–Urbatys and Sebastien Picault and Laurent Bourgues on Kickers.

The most seasoned participants are Eric Drouglazet and Laurent Pellecuer on Luisina, who between them have competed in this double handed transatlantic race 13 times. They are followed by Morvan and de Broc on 11.

The line-up also includes seven round the world sailors including Jean le Cam (on Generali with Nicolas Lunven), Sam Davies (on Saveol with boyfriend Romain Attanasio), Armel Cleac'h (on Brit Air with Fabien Delahaye), Sebastien Audigane (on Groupe Bel with Kito de Pavant), Yann Eliès (on Generali-Europ Assistance with Jérémie Beyou), Bertrand de Broc and also Bernard Stamm.

In addition to HP Schipman, several other competitors have graduated up to the Figaro from the Mini class. They include Bertrand Delesne, Bertrand Castelnérac, Sebastien Picault and Laurent Bourgues.

Entries: