Groupe Bel, first in Le Havre

It has become a habit. Just as for the last two Transat Jacques Vabre races, the Groupe Bel monohull, sailed by Kito de Pavant and Yann Régniau is the first contender to have reached the start harbor, during the night. This is not a point of pride but more from being cautious, since the boat, based in Port Camargue in the Mediterranean, has to round the Iberian peninsula, cross the Bay of Biscay and sail up the Channel to get to Le Havre, making it a journey of 1,500 miles (2,700 km), during which weather slowdowns and other setbacks may occur. To hold onto some leeway is therefore essential, particularly since after sailing nearly a third of a transatlantic race, the boat needs to be examined from top to bottom. After a 12-day delivery carried out in a variety of conditions and with the romantic escort of dolphins to the tip of Brittany, the "Laughing Cow®" returned with a smile to the green meadows of Normandy on time and in great shape.

“It is our ambition to finish first at the finish harbors, but we can at least begin by arriving first in the start city”, says Kito in fun. “More seriously, it was our goal to reach Le Havre before 15 October to have plenty of room and this is the case. We have worked very hard and so have the other racers. I am really impatient to see them again and get back to racing.”

Almost a “new” boat
After the Mediterranean calm, Groupe Bel crossed the Bay of Biscay on a lively 30 knot wind close-hauled. This was a good opportunity to test Groupe Bel's all-new roof in racing conditions. It is a resounding success for Kito, visibly taken with this configuration. “It's a life changer! I feel like I'm sailing a new boat. She is much more comfortable to steer and all the optimizations carried out this summer are paying off! We spent twelve days delivering, passing Gibraltar, Cape Finisterre and the tip of Brittany, which made for very practical sailing and have got us running at a good transatlantic pace, and Yann and I are fully in our stride.”

Dancing with dolphins
Boat trimming alone on deck, engine loads, cooking on board, the media and encountering dolphins, Yann Régniau who is racing his first Transat Jacques Vabre, is experiencing it all at first hand. “I am now at home on Groupe Bel! I feel more confident and more at ease with the sail trimmings, and adjustments to the keel, centreboard, ballast, etc. I have acquired the right reflexes”, explains the sailor and sail designer, who will remember when they passed the tip of Brittany. “At Ouessant (Ushant), first two and then eight dolphins accompanied us. They stayed for a part of the night playing ahead the bow. I leant out from the flying jib boom. It was magnificent to see them swim in the phosphorescent plankton under an almost full moon. It really was a beautiful moment.”

Safely at harbor, Groupe Bel is now in the hands of the technical team who are carrying out a complete checkup and finishing preparations. Meanwhile, back to Port Camargue for Kito and to Brittany for Yann, who must pass his first aid certificate, which is mandatory for all sailors at the start of the Transat Jacques Vabre. The two men will then meet up again next Wednesday for a visit to the workers of the Bel factories in Pacy in the Eure département and Evron in Mayenne, before returning to Le Havre for the last leg before the start.

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