Transat CIC: Impressive start scenes from Brittany - the Vendée Globe season is underway

Sunshine, cumulus clouds like puffy cotton wools and a beautiful westerly wind of ten to 15 knots formed the backdrop for the start of the Transat CIC in Brittany. Boris Herrmann also opened his first race of the season with the classic. On Sunday lunchtime, the 42-year-old from Hamburg started the 3500 nautical mile long North Atlantic test with "Malizia - Seaexplorer".

The starting signal for the first endurance test of the Vendée Globe season was given at 1.30 pm in the most beautiful sailing conditions off Lorient in Brittany. 33 Imoca soloists, including six women, are making the leap across the pond to New York with the Transat CIC. 13 single-handed daredevils have started in the smaller Class40. There is only one female skipper, the former Mini and Ocean Race sailor Amélie Grassi. With Patrick Isoard ("Uship pour Enfants du Mekong") and Rémy Gerin ("Faiaohe"), there are only two skippers competing in the vintage division.

Charlie Dalin takes command with "Macif"

The Imocas' test of strength promises to be particularly exciting. Some starters still have to qualify for the solo circumnavigation from 10 November. Boris Herrmann has already fulfilled all the conditions for his second Vendée Globe participation from 10 November with his rather conservative Transat-CIC start.

The "Malizia - Seaexplorer" skipper seemed very agile on board in the initial phase, moving around a lot between deck and cockpit. He had already said before the start of the race that he was always most worried about the start. Accordingly, he crossed the line cautiously with the midfield, but then moved up from 16th to ninth place with good speed in the first hour and a half. Trend: upwards.

The French co-favourites Jérémie Beyou on "Charal" and Charlie Dalin on "Macif" quickly took over the Imoca lead. While "Charal" initially led the field, "Macif" picked up speed after an hour. After an hour and a half, Charlie Dalin, who had not been able to take part in the Transats at the end of 2023 for health reasons, had already taken command and overtaken "Charal" with several knots more speed within a short space of time.

Transat CIC: Smooth start, rough prospects

Charlie Dalin said before the start of the race: "I'm really looking forward to taking part in this race after missing it (editor: meaning the Transats 2023) last year. It's going to be good." Charlie Dalin also pointed out the first big upcoming decision: "After that, the fleet will be spoilt for choice on how to deal with a small area of low pressure south-west of Ireland on Tuesday. So we will have to decide quickly whether to stay south or go round the bubble a bit. So that's the first big decision, which could create quite a north-south divide in the fleet. That's what I'm focussing on at the moment. I need to make the most of today because it's probably going to be the warmest day of the whole Transat CIC. After that, it's only going to get cooler..."

The top duo was followed by "the usual suspects" on Sunday afternoon: Paul Meilhat with "Biotherm", Samantha Davies on "Initiatives - Cœur", Yoann Richomme with "Paprec Arkéa" and Switzerland's Justine Mettraux on "Teamwork - Team Snef". Then Boris Herrmann's former navigator Nico Lunven on "Holcim - PRB" and Vendée Globe title defender Yannick Bestaven with "Maître Coq".

Amélie Grassi attacks in the Transat CIC

Together with the 13 soloists in the Class40 and two starters in the Vintage division, a total of 48 single-handed skippers provided thrilling opening images from Lorient. The rather quiet start will only be followed by pressure on Monday and Tuesday, when the fleets expect the first weather front. This also applies to the Class40, which is sailing without German participation in this Transat CIC. Right at the start, the co-favourites Ambrogio Beccaria ("Alla Grande Pirelli") and Ian Lipinski ("Crédit Mutuel") fought a worthwhile duel under tightly codenoted code sails that left everyone wanting more. However, after two hours on Sunday afternoon, the Class 40 leader was initially Nicolas d'Estais on "Café Joyeux".

Ambrogio Beccaria, who won the Transat Jacques Vabre 2023, said before the start of the race: "I'm feeling pretty stressed, but confident. In the first two days, I want to feel one hundred per cent comfortable on my boat without any major damage. The strongest wind will come in two and a half days, and that's the position where we can't win the race, but rather lose it."

Ambrogio Beccaria continued: "I will try to sail comfortably. And I want to feel one hundred per cent at ease, on the boat and within myself. It's definitely the first time I've sailed there (editor: meaning the North Atlantic). It's very different to my other times, because it was easier at the end than at the beginning, whereas here it's different. There will be a lot of new things to deal with, such as the forbidden zone and the Gulf Stream..."

Click here for live tracking and the interim results.

The live broadcast of the start in the replay: