November 8th back to calendar
Start of the Jacques Vabre Transatlic Race
After Columbia and Brazil, this year the Transat Jacques Vabre will set course for the new coffee destination of Puerto Limon, located on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. On 8 November, and for the 5th time, Kito will take his place on the starting line of this unique IMOCA circuit two-handed transatlantic race, and for the second time at the helm of Groupe Bel.
“This new route will be interesting since it is very open from a geographical viewpoint, with several conceivable options in the Atlantic, to north or south. We will avoid passing through the perilous doldrums, but will still need to anticipate the finish in the Caribbean which may be very complicated because of the squalls and clouds of the Trade Winds. It will be very similar to the Route du Rhum and I’m impatient to be there”.
For this 9th legendary race, Kito has chosen to compete with François Gabart, a rising racing star with an incredible record of achievements despite being only 26.
They met in 2005, when François began offshore racing at the Mediterranean Training Centre. The following year, Kito lent him his Figaro Bénéteau for the Course des Falaises. “François raced for the first time in the Figaro class with a Vache qui Rit® on the mainsail. Maybe it was an omen?”
“What I like about François is his willpower, enthusiasm, intelligence and great capacity to learn fast and well. He belongs to the new generation of racers who have both aspiration and method. François has a very delightful personality, but also knows how to defend his beliefs and manages his affairs well, as I would have liked to do at his age”. If I bring experience to our duo, he adds spirit, a desire to get things done and the impressive faculty of channeling his energy despite his youth. Furthermore, he proved this last April, by finishing 3rd in the TRANSAT BPE in the Figaro class.”
François Gabart
Born on 23 March 1983 in Charente, single.
Lives in La Forêt Fouesnant
Member of the France Finistère Offshore Racing Centre.
INSA Lyon qualified engineer (2007)
2009:
3rd in the Transat BPE on board the Figaro Espoir Région Bretagne
13th in the Solitaire du Figaro
2008:
1st rookie in the Solitaire du Figaro (16th in the general ranking)
3rd Cap Istanbul
10th French Single-handed Offshore Racing Championship
Winner of the Challenge Espoir Région Bretagne
2005 - 2007:
First tacks in offshore racing on the Figaro and Mumm 30
Double winner of the student ranking of the Tour de France à la Voile
2001 - 2005:
French Olympic team preparation on the Tornado
Young World Champion
2000:
4th Junior European Month Championship winner
1999:
French Moth Europe Champion
1997:
At the age of 14: French Optimist Champion
1990 - 2000:
Centre-board dinghy
1989:
A year with the family cruising on the Atlantic.
