IMOCA ranking prior to the Transat Jacques Vabre - Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air), Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) or Marc Guillemot (Safran)

IMOCA ranking prior to the Transat Jacques Vabre
Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air), Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) or Marc Guillemot (Safran)

Thanks to his victory in the Istanbul Europa Race, Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) has closed his deficit on Armel le Cléac’h (Brit Air) still further in the provisional IMOCA 2009. The Transat Jacques Vabre, which saw fourteen pairs take the start line, will serve as Justice of the Peace as this 2008-2009 season draws to a close. Indeed Armel Le Cléac’h, boosted by his two second places during the Artemis Transat and the Vendée Globe, was on the inside track. However, his retirement is likely to cost him his leadership status.

It is worth recalling that the IMOCA ranking is established over a two year period from a race schedule validated by IMOCA. As such, for the 2008-2009 season, the races retained as part of this schedule were The Artemis Transat (solo race across the North Atlantic), the Vendée Globe, the Istanbul Europa Race and the Transat Jacques Vabre. Each race is allocated a multiplier coefficient. In this way, The Artemis Transat and the Istanbul Europa Race are allocated the coefficient 4, the Transat Jacques Vabre a coefficient 3, whilst the Vendée Globe is awarded a coefficient 10. The winner receives a certain number of points per race, which is equivalent to the number of boats having taken the start; the second is awarded one less point and so on… The greater the number of participants, the more points the victor receives.

For the time being, there are three sailors within twenty points of each other: Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) with 338 points, has Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) hot on his heels again with 324 points; whilst Marc Guillemot (Safran) has 320 points. Suffice to say that with 42 points up for grabs, this Transat Jacques Vabre may well play Justice of the Peace when the top spot is decided. Indeed the same is true for the whole of the podium, which is still within the realms of possibility for Sam Davies (Artemis II).

As such this Transat Jacques Vabre, with its novel course, will round off what has been an intriguing season of racing. It all began with a rather atypical Artemis Transat, where the downwind conditions prevailed. The extension of this was the major event of the year, the Vendée Globe, which paved the way for the perpetuation of a crewed Tour of Europe through the Istanbul Europa Race… The race schedule fully respects the objectives of the IMOCA circuit: favouring single and double-handed races, whilst offering a crewed race with a European vocation, so as to increase the class’ notoriety in new countries. This programme, launched in October 2007, has gone ahead despite the difficulties affecting the economic world and the uncertainties that result from such a situation. Proof, if need be, of the pertinence of the options proposed.

Now mid race, it seems likely that the IMOCA title will be decided between Marc Guillemot (Safran), third and provisional leader of the Transat Jacques Vabre and Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia). For Michel to retain his lead over Marc in the IMOCA ranking, he will have to finish just a single place behind the skipper of Safran. As such, beyond the result of the race, the 2009 IMOCA championship title is likely to be settled in the Caribbean Sea.

IMOCA ranking prior to the Transat Jacques Vabre:
1 Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) 338 pts
2 Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) 324 pts
3 Marc Guillemot (Safran) 320 pts
4 Sam Davies (Artemis II) 306 pts
5 Vincent Riou (PRB) 280 pts
6 Dee Caffari (Aviva) 274 pts
7 Arnaud Boissières (Akena Verandas) 268 pts
8 Brian Thompson (Pindar) 260 pts
9 Steve White (Spirit of Weymouth) 250 pts
10 Richard Wilson (Great American III) 220 pts
11 Raphaël Dinelli (Fondation Ocean Vital) 210 pts
12 Norbert Sedlacek (Nauticsport) 200 pts
13 Loïck Peyron (Gitana 80) 52 pts
14 Yann Elies (Générali) 44 pts
15 Yannick Bestaven (Aquarelle.com) 32 pts
16 Kito de Pavant (Groupe Bel) 20 pts
17 Guillermo Altadill (1876) 16 pts
18 Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) 12 pts
19 Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec Virbac) 8 pts
20 Marc Thiercelin (DCNS) 4 pts
- Unaï Basurko (Pakéa Biskaïa 2009) 0 pt
- Jérémie Beyou (Delta Dore) 0 pt
- Jean-Baptiste Dejeanty (Maisonneuve) 0 pt
- Mike Golding (Mike Golding Yacht Racing) 0 pt
- Derek Hatfield (Spirit of Canada) 0 pt
- Sébastien Josse (BT) 0 pt
- Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux) 0 pt
- Jonathan Malbon (Artemis II) 0 pt
- Alex Pella (W-Hotels) 0 pt
- Pachi Rivero (1876) 0 pt
- Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat) 0 pt
- Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) 0 pt
- Dominique Wavre (Temenos) 0 pt

Reminder: winner of the Transat Jacques Vabre: 42 pts, second: 39 pts, third: 36 pts, etc.