Denis Van Weynbergh, back out into the North Atlantic

28.05: 2 P.M: Denis Van Weynbergh cast off from the One Fifteen marina and the dazzling backdrop formed by New York’s sea of skyscrapers. After bidding an emotional farewell to his loved ones and to his devoted team, he made for the virtual start line some 100 miles offshore of the Big Apple.

28.05: 4 P.M: The frenzy of the city that never sleeps faded in his wake as the IMOCA D'Ieteren Group got back into race mode, readying herself to take on the challenges of the Atlantic Ocean.

29.05: 1 P.M: Approaching the start zone, concentration is at its peak with 30 fellow competitors in the starting blocks.

29.05: 2 P.M: The IMOCA D'Ieteren Group crossed the virtual start line in the New York - Vendée in light wind and sea conditions (9-10 knots downwind from west to south-west and fine seas).

This latest transatlantic race will take the sailors on a course spanning nearly 3,200 miles across the North Atlantic, from New York to Les Sables d'Olonne, the project’s port of registry and the starting point for the eagerly awaited Vendée Globe. Participants will have to sail without any specific route constraints, with the exception of a first waypoint positioned to the south to avoid an ice exclusion zone and a mammal protection zone.

Whilst the outward transatlantic passage, The Transat CIC, boasted a course that was constantly punching into the elements (wind and sea) with a lot of testing upwind conditions, in the return transatlantic sprint, the New York Vendée, downwind conditions are likely to take precedence, which means that the race will likely be fairly quick with more bearable living conditions aboard the boats.

Following his performance in The Transat CIC, completed in 12 days, Denis Van Weynbergh has successfully fulfilled the brief to gain qualification for the Vendée Globe (namely taking the start of a race in 2023 and 2024 and completing it within 1.5 times of the winning time).

Moreover, every mile covered in the Transat New York - Vendée Les Sables race scores for 1.5 miles, further bolstering Denis’ position in the race for points since he has competed the entire IMOCA programme over recent years.

As a result, Denis is setting off on this final challenge of the spring with increased confidence, which will enable him to sail with a sense of liberation. Indeed, this transatlantic race will be a valuable opportunity to hone his skills and validate his technical choices prior to the round the world epic.

“It’s going to be pure enjoyment! The season’s goal has been achieved so I feel a sense of relief and liberation. I very much hope I’ll be able to go up the channel into Les Sables d’Olonne after crossing the finish line, as that’s the same channel as the one used in the Vendée Globe. It’ll be an emotional foretaste of what’s to come,” admits Denis.