72 hours from kick-off in The Transat 2008, this year christened The Artemis Transat, the thirteen Imoca monohulls registered are wisely sitting it out in Sutton Harbour Marina, nestled in the Barbican area of Plymouth. Aboard Gitana Eighty, the shore crew are busying themselves with the final details. Yesterday evening, Loïck Peyron and his men went for a final test sail in Plymouth's harbour so as to make the final checks prior to the departure for Boston. The next few days will be dedicated to embarking the supplies as well as the study of grib files and ice charts. “The receipt of files and their analysis is intensifying with three days to go till the start. For the time being, forecasts are indicating a downwind exit into the English Channel in a medium wind. However, some radical options should take shape from that point. This transatlantic race promises to be fairly open…”

Double winner of the event (1992, 1996 in the multihull category), Loïck Peyron will set off on Sunday 11th May at 1400 hours (local time), at the helm of the most recent of the Gitana fleet, in a bid for a historic triple.

Radio silence…
During the transatlantic, the sailors taking part in this 13th edition will experience a 36 hour position black-out. Indeed, in line with the weather situation and the tactical intrigue, race management will select a day during which competitors won't have access to the positions of the rest of the fleet. This initiative, thought-up in order to revive past conditions in the early days of this legendary race, greatly appeals to the skipper of Gitana Eighty.