Le Havre hosts some of the most prestigious nautical events in the world, along with many other regattas.
The Transat Jacques Vabre Normandy Le Havre
This nautical event, one of the biggest in the world, is intimately linked to the history of Le Havre, the world’s leading coffee port until the 1930s. When it was created in 1993, between Le Havre and Cartagena, the event was called the Coffee Route! Every odd-numbered year, in the autumn, more than 120 sailors set off in pairs to Brazil, on several classes of yachts (for 2019: Class40, Multi50 and Imoca).
To celebrate their departure, the quays of the Bassin Paul Vatine come alive for ten days around a village featuring lots of stands and activities. The party is in full swing every evening with a large bar area, restaurant areas and musical evenings.
Le Havre Allmercup
The Le Havre Allmer Cup, organised every two years in June by SRH, is one of the events counting towards the French solo ocean racing championship. It rewards a very complete skipper, who has to follow a series of technical courses aboard a Figaro Bénéteau 3, such as a “banana” type course (between buoys), “coastal” courses under the cliffs and a long offshore leg. For ten days, the show at sea takes place daily and there is also entertainment for the general public on the quays.
The Normandy Cup
The Normandy Cup, one of the warm-ups for the Tour de France à la Voile, brings together regatta fans and professionals from around fifteen countries. Four hundred and fifty enthusiasts are involved in the race: sailors taking part in other prestigious races such as the Vendée Globe, the Volvo Ocean race or the Olympic Games’ sailing events, with trainers and coaches working to offer the best sailing conditions to the 100 competing yachts. The event also includes a stage of the women’s duelling world cup and regattas at the city, in the fore-port, easily accessible to the public. The Normandy Cup is co-organised by the Le Havre Sailing League and Le Havre sailing clubs: SNPH, SRH and CNPV.
Voiles Étudiantes by EMNormandie
Created in 2010 by the City of Le Havre with the logistical support of the Normandy Sailing League and its 3 local clubs, the Voiles Étudiantes du Havre is one of the largest student sailing gatherings in France. For its tenth edition, the regatta is supported by the Ecole de Management de Normandie. More than 40 crews, both novices and experienced, from around twenty European French Grandes Ecoles and universities will compete over two days in the Bay of Le Havre, as close as possible to the coast, on board J/80s and First Class 7.5s. A sporting and festive event organised every year in spring!
In Etretat, the Périssoires Regatta
Every year, this local nautical event celebrates the “périssoires”, traditional light boats symbolic of the small seaside resort’s maritime heritage. And if you’re not in Etretat in mid-August, you’ll find a model of a “périssoire” at the Etretat Heritage Museum, on the Falaise d’Amont.
A full regatta schedule!
Throughout the season, many other regattas are organised, for beginners and experienced skippers, single-handed, with crew or with family, on the vast expanse of water off Le Havre, by the 3 local clubs, the SRH, the CNPV and the SNPH, and in Etretat, at the foot of the cliffs, by Voiles et Galets.