Transat Québec Saint-Malo is Back in 2016
Race start confirmed for July 10th 2016
Québec, Friday October 16, 2015 – It is now confirmed, crews enrolled in the 9th Transat Québec Saint-Malo will take the start on the Saint-Lawrence River on Sunday July 10 for a 3000 nautical miles race between Québec City and St-Malo. « We are very excited to confirm the start date and to officially open registrations for the oldest non-stop east to west crewed ocean race says Sylvain Gagné, President of Voile internationale Québec. We had 26 boats on the starting line in 2012 so we expect at least 35 in 2016! »
New race director
With his extensive experience and proven expertise in sailing, Damien De Pas from Québec has been appointed as race director of the 2016 event. «The experience that I have gathered in the past 20 years as a crew member, a skipper, a speaker a weather router and a project manager helped me understand the various issues of sailing, he says. This transat race is a flagship event of North American ocean races. It is dear to my heart and I’m happy to be involved in it to ensure its sustainability ». Let’s note that every four years since 1984, professional ocean racers taking part in the Transat Québec Saint-Malo have set sail from Québec City with one goal in mind: to navigate their way along the St. Lawrence River and cross the Atlantic Ocean in record time! Some of the world’s best crews will gather in Québec City, ready to take on the 9th edition of this colossal challenge in an ocean race held to mark Jacques Cartier’s first crossing in 1534 from his home town of Saint-Malo to the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
The TQSM Village
Again this year, visitors can rub shoulders with the crews of the ocean racing yachts in the lead-up to the big race as monohull and multihull racing yachts will be moored up along the wharves of Bassin Louise 10 days prior to the race. In addition, exhibitors, restaurants, a wine bar, conferences and plenty of activities that the whole family can enjoy will no doubt make this 9th edition a big success.
All details will be communicated via transatquebecstmalo.com within the next few months.