Tour De France A La Voile

The route of the 2010 Tour de France a la Voile has been revealed during the press conference held at Paris Boat Show. From Dunkerque to La Seyne sur Mer, this round the France sailing race will be an extreme one, as offshore legs will be either very long or very short. The race will have a quick start since most of the points will be given between the Channel and the Atlantic Ocean. Competitors will have to challenge Courrier Dunkerque, the current title holder, as soon as possible.

The route of the 2010 Tour de France a la Voile has been revealed

“The first half of the race will be of main importance from a strategic point of view since it will include two coefficient three legs.” explains the race director William Borel. Three marathon legs will cover 500 miles between Dieppe (Seine Maritime) and Talmont Saint Hilaire (Vendee), including stopovers at Pleneuf Val Andre (Cotes d’Armor) and Lorient (Morbihan). On the contrary, the Mediterranean Sea will be all about inshore races, with no more than two offshore legs from Port Camargue (Gard) to Marseille (Bouches du Rhone), and from Marseille to La Seyne sur Mer (Var). The race organization should take advantage of the Southern coast to launch many triangle races.

The TFV is going back to Calais – the race stopped there in 1978. Meanwhile, there is a new stopover in North Brittany: Pleneuf Val Andre. Most cities should also celebrate the last run of the Farr 30. She will be replaced in 2011 by the M34. This one-design boat already got a proper public: almost ten boats have already been sold. The first one is expected next spring and will be named after the Nexus Dean Barker Team. The Team New Zealand’s skipper is also the boat ambassador and he already announced his desire to participate to the 2011 edition – this is the reason he attended the press conference.

2010 route and calendar:

– Dunkerque: from June 26th to 29th / 25 mile-long offshore leg
– Calais: from June 29th to July 1st / 70 mile-long offshore leg (minimum)
– Dieppe: from July 2nd to 4th / 200 mile-long offshore leg
– Pleneuf Val Andre : from July 5th to 7th / 200 mile-long offshore leg
– Lorient: from July 9th to 11th / 105 mile-long offshore leg
– Talmont Saint Hilaire: from July 12th to 14th / 70 mile-long offshore leg
– Royan: from July 15th to 17th / 683 km-long road transit
– Port Camargue: from July 18th to 20th / 65 mile-long offshore leg