Course set for the 2nd competitive, musical and big-hearted race
14/10/11
- The Solidaire du Chocolat will set sail for the second time, between France and Mexico, in March 2012.
- Promotional start on Île de Nantes: from Thursday 1st to Sunday 4th March.
- New in 2012: solidarity music with a "Solidaire du Chocolat Festival".
- Sunday 4th March: Grand Solidarity Parade on the Estuary.
- Start of the 5,000 mile double-handed transatlantic race between St. Nazaire and Progreso (Yucatan): on Sunday 11th March.
- A dozen Class40 duos have already registered for an offshore race in aid of charity associations.
After being given a really popular welcome for the first race, and backed by the enthusiasm of their partners, the Solidaire du Chocolat could not stop there. So it is off again! This offshore race, which is unlike any other, is setting sail again in March 2012. Preparations for the event are already in full swing, with the double-handed transatlantic race between France and Mexico as a backdrop, and solidarity in the steering seat. The best recipes being those that are repeated, the Solidaire du Chocolat will be using all the same ingredients that made it a success, and will be enriched with a few surprises. This year, the accent will be placed on music with a “Solidaire du Chocolat Festival” with top of the bills from jazz music and well-known singers.
The programme of the Solidaire du Chocolat 2012 was presented during a press conference at the Nantilus in Nantes, on Friday 7th October 2011, before 200 people. Its organizers met up with partners, musicians, and business players all showing their solidarity, to reveal the content of this second distillation of mutually beneficial meetings and the discovery of Yucatan.
The secret of this very special offshore race lies primarily in its vocation to blow a great wind of solidarity into the sails of the longest transatlantic race competed in so far, following the in footsteps of the cocoa traders. On its 5,000 mile course (9 260 km) between France and Mexico, the Solidaire du Chocolat immediately stood out as a leading Class40 event. More than a race, it counts as one of the major meetings for this class of 12.19 metre monohulls. It is reputed to be competitive, convivial, and for its ability to liven up all the sailing areas involved.
Exciting racing between France and Mexico
Recollections of 2009 are still a testimony to the mark that this event has left in the minds of sailors and in oceanic sailing circles. A special place is also reserved for it by the media. For this second race, a dozen duos have already registered, representing 5 nationalities (French, Chinese, Italian, German and Swiss). On this list are a few second time rounders, notably Tanguy de Lamotte, winner of the previous race (with Adrien Hardy) who are playing for the title, or Bruno Jourdren (3rd), Armel Tripon, and Damien Seguin. Many skippers, in search of partners, have also said that they would surrender to the temptation of chocolate. Among them is Yannick Bestaven, a newcomer in the Class40. With plenty of experience and a fine record of achievements behind him, inevitably this skipper and engineer will be one of the favourites. Clearly, we already have quality and diversity in this race. They are the guarantee of a good racing level on the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, and of magical finishes in the land of the Mayas.
Wave of charity funds
One certainty also prevails. With the Solidaire du Chocolat, it is a real feast ashore. Loyal to its recipe, the accent will be placed on the kind of entertainment that made it so popular with the public, which came in droves to Nantes, during the Grand Solidarity Parade on the Estuary, and again in St. Nazaire. The public were there for the occasion, coming in large crowds to pay tribute to the sailors competing and the associations being supported. This is what creates the particularity of this cross-disciplinary event, which removes barriers and unites players from the business, institutional, offshore sailing, and associative worlds. Their joint objective: to raise a wave of solidarity funds, by following the skippers competing, in aid of charity projects (500,000 Euros in 2009).
Chocolate Festival
To complete this generous programme, the Solidaire du Chocolat will innovate and be enriched this year, spurred on by the trumpeter Alex Tassel, ADAMI musical talent 2001. It will take artists along on this adventure together with Yaël Naim and Manu Katché, mentors of this second race. Alongside them, to the tempo of a good quality programme, Sanseverino, André Manoukian, Fred Wesley, Laurent de Wilde, among many others will carry the public away on songs of solidarity during free concerts for secondary school students and those receiving minimum social benefit. This Festival will also see a creation by Alex Tassel - “La Symphonie de la Mer” (The Sea Symphony) - played several times in Nantes, St. Nazaire, and for the finish in Mexico. Distributed under the Naïve label, a limited edition of this original creation will also be sold during the event in aid of the Yucatan associations.
What they said
Yves Gillet, organizer: “Innovate, bring together, aid, and inspire: These were the key words of the first Solidaire du Chocolat in 2009. Faced with the success on both sides of the Atlantic, and the wonderful pages of solidarity written, as well as the great top-level competitive fight enjoyed by the 24 Class40s, the partners and organizers have decided to repeat the adventure. We are faced with a new challenge: to enrich the concept and to enable the largest possible number of people to benefit from it!”
Damien Grimont, organizer: “From the beginning, the Solidaire du Chocolat was born from the desire of all the players to unite to create an event in aid of charity. Its trademark is to federate all these people - sailors, musicians, and sponsoring businesses - who share a concern for the actions meaning something. This solidarity is expressed through two strong notions: Generosity towards the associative world, and fraternity born from the meeting of people coming from different worlds.”
Tanguy de Lamotte, skipper of Initiatives Saveurs-Alex Olivier, winner in 2009: “Together with my chocolate maker partner, I had a strong desire to relive this Solidaire du Chocolat. This was also due to the fact that the support from the Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque Association is part of the DNA of my project. It is always a pleasure from the moment the race begins and all through the race to speak new people. From the sport point of view, it is very stimulating to be playing your title. I also know that the finish in Progreso is magical! Neither Adrian (Hardy, winner with him in 2009, editor's note) nor myself are ready to forget the welcome of the Mayan people, which dispels the difficult moments of the race in one fell swoop.”
Yann Rolland, president of Bel’m: “For more than ten years, we have been committed to a programme of Corporate Social Responsibility, following the path of sustainable development and to have an ethical policy from a social point of view. When the Solidaire du Chocolat launched its concept in 2009, associating racing performances and solidarity, it echoed our desires and concerns entirely. We became a loyal partner to this event, unlike any other, and patron of the Toit à Moi Association. In 2012, we are setting off again with the same enthusiasm on all fronts.”
Séverine Tissine, “Un Maillot pour la Vie” Association: “We really hope to set off again. In 2009, we experienced an incredible human-scale adventure. We met a sponsoring company with which we have created special links in the last 3 years. We also discovered the treasures of the marine world and made the acquaintance of two skippers who were wonderful with the children in hospital.”
The “3 Ms” of the Solidaire du Chocolat 2012
Competitive, festive, musical and still demonstrating the same solidarity. For its second race, the Solidaire du Chocolat will stand true to its name. On shore and at sea, in France and in Mexico, it will demonstrate solidarity in many forms, creating a bouquet of chocolate flavours with notes of salty sea air and set to the rhythm of the “3M”
- “M”, for the marine world! Skippers, sponsors and associations sharing the values of competing in this big-hearted race and adventure.
- “M” for Music! Great names from jazz, gems of the musical world, united in solidarity concerts and the creation of a unique work: “La Symphonie de la Mer” (The Sea Symphony)
- “M” for Mexico and the Mayas! Now boarding for Mexico. 2012, the Mayan year full of predictions, is a special context in which to set off for the Yucatan; the land where chocolate comes from, and encourage solidarity with practical projects on the theme of education, solidarity tourism and the environment.
Key dates
- From Thursday 1st to Sunday 4th March: on Île de Nantes
- Sunday 4th March: Solidarity Parade from Nantes to St. Nazaire
- From Wednesday 7th March to Sunday 11th March: at the harbour of St. Nazaire
- Sunday 11th March: Start of the race in St. Nazaire
All news
General synopsis by November 20, 2009 at 00h 
Tropical activity
