Douarnenez, the home of classic yachting on the Atlantic seaboard

In 2008, the idea to race 24 classic yachts across the Atlantic was a bold one. But it paid off. After sailing more than 4,800 miles from the port of Douarnenez to the Caribbean island of St. Barts, the participants rewarded the organizers with their good humour and their enthusiasm. The Sparkman & Stephens yawl Stiren took the trophy and a legend was born.

The Transat Classique will be entering a new phase in 2012 with, in addition to the Atlantic seaboard event, a leg starting out from a Mediterranean port.

Saint-Tropez, well known as a rendezvous for the world's most prestigious yachts thanks to the regattas The Nioulargue and Les Voiles, is a natural starting point for an alternative warm-up run to Cascais in Portugal. After converging on Lisbon's sophisticated seaboard neighbour, the Atlantic and Mediterranean fleets will set out for that pearl of the Caribbean, Barbados, a destination that has inspired many a racing yachtsmen in search of adventure and discovery.

No doubt about it, the Transat Classique 2012 is going to be a vintage race!

DEPARTURE FROM DOUARNENEZ : 22th July 2012