Denis Van Weynbergh racing in the Retour à La Base with his IMOCA D’Ieteren Group
This Thursday 30 November at 16:00 UTC, Denis Van Weynbergh took the start of the Retour à La Base transatlantic race.
A race that serves as a qualifier for the Vendée Globe 2024, it will be excellent single-handed training for the Belgian skipper. The course distance for the Retour à La Base equates to 3,463 nautical miles. An eastbound passage across the Atlantic in December is no mean feat though. Our sailors will have to keep good control of their boats and safely negotiate the low-pressure systems.
If weather conditions become complicated, Race Management has put in place a system of gates, which will enable the boats to be ranked should the race be cut short.
"The aim is to preserve our steeds, make it to the other side and tick off the miles to qualify for the Vendée Globe. Naturally I want to continue to raise my game too. The Transat Jacques Vabre was great training for this return race back to base” confirms Denis.