The regatta is an annual semi professional event organised by Blue Ocean Events. The Seychelles Regatta will be held from 15th to 24th May 2009 with the support of the Seychelles government in an aim to promote tourism and to introduce the Seychelles via its hundreds of islands to a wider public. The Seychelles Regatta’s three main partners are the Seychelles Tourism Board, Air Seychelles and Eden Island, introducing their amazing housing development.
The number of participants is limited to twenty boats with crews of 6 to 8 people onboard and the available catamarans will be Lagoon 38, Nautitech 40, Leopard 40, Leopard 43, Lagoon 440, Nautitech 44, Leopard 46, Bahia 46 and Catana 47.
The government press release adds: Michel Desjoyeaux, the most successful sailor of his generation, winner of the 2008/2009 Vendée Globe onboard Foncia, will come back to the Seychelles after a holiday spent there with his family after his historic win. First skipper to have won the Vendée Globe twice (in 2000/2001 and 2008/2009), the Breton skipper, sea master on all types of boats, from Figaro boats to IMOCA monohulls and 60-foot trimarans, has an impressive winning record in solo sailing: three wins in the Solitaire du Figaro, winner of The Transat 2004 and the 2002 Route du Rhum onboard a multihull. Familiar with the turquoise waters of the Seychelles, Michel Desjoyeaux will gladly meet again his Vendée Globe runner-up Armel Le Cléac’h, one of his previous crew member Romain Attanasio, British sailor Sam Davies who sailed Michel’s previous Open 60 to a honourable fourth place in the last Vendée Globe and British recordwoman Dee Caffari who, by finishing the Vendée Globe in sixth place, has become the first woman to sail solo non-stop round the world in both directions.
Armel Le Cléac’h, renowned Figaro sailor who had won the 2003 edition of the Solitaire for 13 seconds to Alain Gautier, came into the IMOCA class three years ago and successfully went on to win the IMOCA World Champion title 2009 with Brit Air. The IMOCA World Championship rewards the regularity and consistency in results and with two podium places as runner-up for the two major solo races of the calendar (Artemis Transat 2008 and Vendée Globe 2008/2009), Armel has demonstrated if need be that he’s a master of his own right!
Romain Attanasio, a popular figure on the Figaro circuit will join the race in the Seychelles. Member of the famous Pôle Finistère Course au Large training centre, Romain has successfully clung 5 podium positions to his nautical CV and is a regular in the top half of the chart in Figaro races and Tour Voile. In 2003, he reaches Top 10 of the French offshore solo sailing championship. Romain has also been a navigator onboard some of the best multihulls including Michel Desjoyeaux’s and Franck Cammas’. His aim is to step up into the IMOCA class and participate in the Vendée Globe.
The Seychelles Regatta is also very pleased to welcome onboard the two women of the Vendée Globe 2008/2009. Sam Davies, first woman and first British sailor in the last Vendée Globe was at the helm of the boat that won the two previous editions of the race. Sam had a remarkable race, demonstrating her talent and skills, and delivering her “joie de vivre” while she was at it. Sam was part of Tracy Edwards’ all female crew that attempted the Jules Verne Trophy in 1998, attempt that was brutally stopped when Royal Sun Alliance dismasted off Cape Horn. With a Mini-Transat, 4 successful years in Figaro and two years at the helm of her IMOCA Open 60, Roxy, Sam conjugates work, focus and happiness at the present time!
She will be joined by her fellow British friend, Dee Caffari. A member of the IMOCA class for the past two years and professional sailor since 2000 only, Dee Caffari entered the record books in May 2006 when she became the first woman to have sailed solo round the world non-stop against the prevailing winds and currents in the Aviva Challenge. By finishing the Vendée Globe in sixth position, Dee realises a historic double world first by becoming the first woman to have sailed solo non-stop round the world in both directions. By being the only woman and only third person to have accomplished that amazing feat, Dee Caffari meets the likes of Mike Golding and Jean-Luc Van Den Heede.
These five top sailors will also meet the one who describes himself as a singer-adventurer-photographer-film maker, French celebrity Antoine. Antoine left for a round the world tour recently and will visit the Seychelles on that occasion. He will use that opportunity to participate in the Seychelles Regatta and make a promotional movie about this unique archipelago.
The prestige of our guests will offer the participants a time to remember in the Seychelles and we shall look forward to seeing you all at the end of May in “another world”!
