On November 1st, the bi-annual Jacques Vabre trans atlantic race will start from Le Harve France. The course will take the fleet below the equator to a finish in Salvador Brazil.

There are 50 and 60 foot classes for both multihull and monohull yachts. The boats are sailed doublehanded. This article is the 3rd installment of a preview that will look at some of the entered sailors and boats.

Since 1999 a growing number of the teams have been co-ed. For instance Ellen Macarthur sailed with Yves Parlier that year and will team for the 2nd time with Alain Gautier. Unlike the Volvo Ocean race where all women’s teams have competed and not done well, short handed ocean racing is an arena where women are absolutely equal with men’s teams.

Ellen Macarthur and Emma Richards

There are 10 co-ed teams of which we will look at 5. In the Open 60 trimaran a pair of French skippers have co-skippers from the UK. Alain Gautier and Ellen Macarthur will sail Foncia, while Karen Fauconnier and Damian Foxall will sail Sergio Tachini.

Gautier is a Vendee Globe winner and finished 2nd in the 2001 Jacques Vabre with Macarthir as co-skipper.

Fauconnier is a 2003 Sailor of the Year candidate, while co-skipper Damian Foxall has background from Figaro’s to Race Class cats.

Past performance makes Foncia the favorite over Sergio Tachini.

The Open 60 monohull’s have three prominent co-ed teams. Emma Ricahrds will skipper her new Pindar with Kiwi Mike Sanderson on board. Sanderson is skipper of Mari Cha IV but short on Open class time.

Aussie Nick Moloney and Brit Sam Davies will sail Team Cowes best known as Ellen Macarthur’s Kingfisher.

Sam Davies and Nick Moloney

An all French co-ed team will sail VMI. Skipper will be Sebastain Josse with highly experienced Isabelle Autissier as co-skipper.

Richard’s boat is supposedly quite quick, while VMI was the winner of the 1999 Jacques Vabre. However, Team Cowes is an excellent boat, Nick Moloney has a lot of time aboard so of the three mono hulls I’d tip them.

Next week we’ll make our podium predictions….if you have thoughts use the comment area below and post them!

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