The Transat CIC (Lorient – New York): Logistics Challenges and Sponsorship Strategies Revealed

The Transat CIC (Lorient – New York), departs on Sunday 28 April

When you decide to arrive in New York, how do you proceed?

Already, the Americans were the first to welcome the transatlantic race in 1960 but it is not a country that has a sea racing culture. Even if we already went there in 2016 with our teams, they do not expect us in the same way in 2024. The first question was to know if it was technically possible to welcome on our ships, if there were enough ports. Unlike Lorient La Base, which is able to accommodate the entire fleet, this is not possible in New York.

Who do we talk to when we get to New York?

Unlike cities that are committed to the cause of our sport, when we arrive with a fleet in an unexpected city like New York, we turn to private marinas. They rent (1) very expensive pontoon spaces. The owners are very happy to have Imoca’s but if we give them a motorboat of the same size instead, it will be the same thing. For them, it is still linear meters of pontoons, they want to increase production. This is a dry lease, not a partnership. This is where we understand how well France is organized at sea. At home, we have people with whom we can work well and perhaps establish partnerships. In the US, private marina owners are there to make money. We need to talk to them.

So New York City won’t put a dime into the Transat?

Not one. It is an advantage of the Transat which is a great race written in the European history of our sport. But in the United States, navigation is not yet developed as it is here. The Americans don’t realize how lucky they are to host the Transat CIC, but it will come one day. I admit that New York is more complicated in terms of logistics but it is much more powerful in terms of image.

We still have a lot of work to do to convince people internationally about our sport.

How do you accommodate 46 boats, including 33 IMOCAs measuring nearly 19 meters, in a city like New York?

We had to play a Rubik’s cube to get all the boats into three different marinas. Competitors will pass through the ceremonial pontoon at Marina One 15 Brooklyn which is directly in front of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. Then they go to the different marinas. The other marina not far from New York is called Moonbeam.

Will some boats anchor in Newport (2) after the line has passed?

Yes, there will be about ten: that was one of the solutions we had. According to the wishes of certain teams that will be able to stay there between the two races because the New York – Vendée is behind it (departure on May 29).

Newport Harbor is not as magnificent as the Statue of Liberty in New York… How did the teams and sponsors cope?

We have very professional teams that have already experienced the main races that have come in, including the arrival in New York and the departure for New York – Vendée in 2016, so they know ‘ local context. They know we still have a lot of work to do to convince people internationally about our sport. This arrival in the US contributes to the advancement of our discipline. We have to go through that and the sponsors understand that very well.

Distribution of boats in the United States

At One 15° (New York)

Yoann Richomme (Paprec-Arkéa)

Paul Meilhat (Biotherm)

Denis Van Weynbergh (D’ieteren Group)

Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian Group)

Nicolas Lunven (Holcim PRB)

James Harayda (Gentoo Navigation Team)

Charlie Dalin (Macif)

Sébastien Simon (Dubreuil Group)

Benjamin Ferré (Monnoyeur – Duo for work)

The 13th class 40s

At Moonbeam (Brooklyn)

Yannick Bestaven (Maître Coq V)

Boris Herrmann (Malizia Seaexplorer)

Fabrice Amédeo (Nexans – Wewise)

Justine Mettraux (Teamwork.net)

Jérémie Beyou (Charal)

Alan Roura (Hublot)

Louis Duc (Group Five – Lantana)

Louis Burton (Bureau Vallée)

Oliver Heer (Oliver Heer)

In Newport

Guirec Soudée (Freelance.com)

Sébastien Marsset (Foussier)

Kojiro Shiraishi (DMG Mori Global One)

Antoine Cornic (Human Immobilier)

Jean Le Cam (It All Begins in Finistère)

Damien Seguin (Apcil Group)

Tanguy Le Turquais (Lazarr)

Violette d’Orange (Mc Do – DeVenir)

Isabelle Joschke (MACSF)

Arnaud Boissières (La Mie Caline)

François Guiffant (Share)

Maxime Sorel (V and B – Monbana – Mayenne)

Clarisse Crémer (L’Occitane and Provence)

Eric Bellion (Stand As One)

(1): in Moonbeam marina, this amounts to $676.20 / day for Imoca.

(2): Newport is located 3.5 hours away from New York.