Europa Race

Istanbul1500nm 

Barcelone1720nm 

Grande-Bretagne480nm• 

France 

Imagine a sailing venue nestling in the very heart of an ancient, cosmopolitan city. That is Byzantium, or more precisely Istanbul, which is the starting point of a remarkable adventure, an invitation to travel and experience a stimulating, invigorating route which spans Europe. Already eight IMOCA Open 60 skippers and their teams have answered the call of The Europa Race, to take part in a race which will be their last big event as a fleet before the start of the solo non stop around the world Vendee Globe race. In between the long days and nights of solo practice The Europa Race is a great test of speed and opportunity to fine tune their craft fully crewed before the legendary solo challenge.

A race of three legs which visits four countries...

... That is 3700 miles of racing spread across nearly four hard weeks. It sounds tough but it is an acid test of boats, teams and skippers, one which along the way promises a range of varied coastal landscapes and islands, navigational and strategic choices. There are the capricious thermal winds which blow between the islands. From the start in Istanbul there is the sail down the Bosphorous, the Marmara Seas, and the passage through the Dardanelles. Then there are the warm, azure waters of the Aegean, in to the Mediterranean Sea from east to west in to the Catalonian capital of Barcelona. Out from Barcelona the test is the Straits of Gibraltar with fierce tides and often decisive choices at the gateway to the Atlantic. From there it is a course into the Channel for a stop in Portsmouth at the end of the second leg. Then a reciprocal track back out of the Channel, around Brittany to finish in the sailing and nautical sports centre of La Rochelle, well known hosts of many major sailing events, arriving around June 6th.

Quote from Cumali Varer, President of Olay Nautic

"The sporting goal is the same for 2012 but in the passion for sailing, I am driven by a bigger undertaking: for the world, for Europe, for communication and cultural exchanges fostered between different peoples. I have such a deep commitment to humanity and the sea, sailing, with the aim of continuous exchanges for all of us. "

Entries at 1st December 2011

(Registration deadline scheduled as late February 2012)

1. BANQUE POPULAIRE - Armel LeCléac'h (FR)
2. CHEMINEES-POUJOULAT - Bernard Stamm (SUI)
3. GAMESA - Mike Golding (UK)
4. GROUPE BEL - Kito de Pavant (FR)
5. MACIF - François Gabart (FR)
6. PRB - Vincent Riou (FR)
7. SAFRAN - Marc Guillemot (FR)
8. VIRBAC-PAPREC 3 - Jean-Pierre Dick (FR)

Race facts:

• The date of the first edition of Europe Race: 2009
• The reigning champion: Foncia
• The 2011: 3700 miles to go in 3 steps
• Class involved: 60-foot monohull IMOCA Class
• Special interest: The last big race for fleet before
• Vendee Globe 

The Program:

• April 29: Arrival of boats in Istanbul
• 04 May:  Istanbul Trophy
• May 5:  Start of the Europa Race from Istanbul - Leg 1
• May 19: Start Barcelona - Leg 2
• June 03: Start from Portsmouth - Leg 3
• June 06: Finish La Rochelle