16/10/09 - 17:10 - Profits to Mexican associations
Saturday 17th October at 12H00
Menu created by Eric Guérin from the Mare aux Oiseaux and Christophe Roussel, Chef pâtissier in La Baule
Maki de St Jacques, pomme, Butternut, vinaigrette au chocolat
Travers de porc confits, carré de polenta au grué, jus pipillos, un trait de chocolat épicé.
Surprise chocolat
Glass of muscadet
Produced with the help of students from the Lycée Hôtelier Olivier Guichard de Guérande.
Cost : 25 euros
Tickets available from the chocolate bar at the entrance to the Village.

16/10/09 - 17:10 -

Chocolate exhibition open on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th October from 14h00 to19h00. Not to be missed!
Hall d'Exposition de la Maison de l'Avocat
25 rue Lanoüe Bras de Fer - NANTES

15/10/09 - 21:10 - La Solidaire du Chocolat has not yet cast off from the dockside but is already a great hit with the public. The pre-start events got off to a great start in Nantes last weekend, reaching levels of popularity way beyond expectations. Seeing the competitor fleet lining the dockside along with the Belem, seems to have left a mark in the minds of the ,locals who turned up in their masses to see what was going on. The image of the yachts and their multicoloured flags on the Loire was quite a sight to behold ! Nantes was cast back in time to its rich maritime history. All day Saturday, the village was full : 10 000 people came to see the activities and events on the programme all based on the theme of chocolate. People also came to meet and exchange with the associations working on a day to day level in social, support and environmental domains. The official presentation of the race stood out as the highlight of the day during which sponsors presented cheques to the associations taking part. La Solidaire affirme dits identity and its reason for being.

A fairytale magical parade !
On Sunday, the Grande Parade Solidaire, drew the crowds in.
Setting out from Nantes, smiling children from local colleges along with handicapped children touched peoples’ hearts, sharing a common smile as they set foot on a boat for the very first time. A wave of emotion sailed down the estuary. Once again, the public was loyal. They saluted the Belem and the Class 40 fleet down to Saint Nazaire. When the boats arrived, the race village was taken by assault. Solidarity and ocean sailing go together. 

Make way for sport !
On Wednesday the « Grand Choc’ » will be opening its doors and the Solidaire du Chocolat will be moving into the sporting dimension of particular significance to the 48 sailors taking part. You can continue to keep up with the race on the internet. You can even sign up to take part in the virtual race which is likely to be a total success, if the popular interest thus far is anything to go by. Emotion gives way to the competition !

15/10/09 - 21:10 - On Sunday at the end of a superb parade down the estuary from Nantes, the 24 Class 40 monos entered in the Solidaire du Chocolat arrived in St Nazaire. Throughout their sail down the Loire estuary until their arrival in the harbour town at the end of the day, the 48 skippers soaked in the popular support for the race and the adventure the yachtsmen are about to take part in. A great experience and a great moment for Damien SEGUIN and Armel TRIPON...   Read

15/10/09 - 11:10 - A wave of school children flooded into the Grand Choc' race village in Saint-Nazaire this afternoon. Around 11 am, 23 classes following boats entered in the race were received by enthusiastic skippers. The energy was tangible. More than 600 pupils aged 11-14 highlighted the educational aspects of the Solidaire du Chocolat.   Read

11/10/09 - 21:10 - You could be forgiven for thinking that there was a master plan behind it all. There were lots of visitors in Nantes when the fleet cast off from the quayside this morning. Bis repetita this afternoon in Saint Nazaire for the arrival of the Class 40 and Belem at the end of the Grande Parade Solidaire. Enthousiastic, curious and excited by the programme of the Solidaire du Chocolat, tons of people were waiting on the wall of the main lock to welcome the fleet in. The boats had to wait a while before being able to enter the dock of the submarine base. The official opening of the Grand Choc’ race village for this transatlantic over to Mexico is to be held on Wednesday 14th October. The starting shot of the race will to Progreso au Yucatan will be fired at 17h00 next Sunday after four days of festivities all with a distinctly chocolately flavour ! What else?

11/10/09 - 18:10 - La Grande Parade Solidaire. Quite a sight it was too to see the Belem leaving quayside in Nantes for Saint Nazaire to mark the next stage in the pre-start events of the Solidaire du Chocolat. An unforgettable moment which has no doubt marked the hearts of the public in Nantes who turned out in number to salute the colourful fleet. One by one, mainsail raised, the 24 Class 40 monos entered fell into line behind the Belem. Local pupils,...   Read

11/10/09 - 18:10 - The fleet of the Grande Parade Solidaire made it to Saint Nazaire shortly before 4pm today. Tribute was paid to the oldest and most emblematic ambassador of the chocolate trade route. The Belem three-master was first into the lock, followed by the Class 40 monohulls and their crews.  An emotional moment when the fleet passed under the bridge of Saint Nazaire thus marking the end of the great parade. Once again, the crowds were out to appreciate the sight of the Solidaire du Chocolat fleet before they set out across the Atlantic bound for Mexico. Race start : 5pm next Sunday.

11/10/09 - 11:10 - La Solidaire du Chocolat. An explosive cocktail of solidarity, festivities and the yacht race from France to Mexico at the race village on the île de Nantes on Saturday evening. Great chefs, volunteers from the associations and the sailors all together. On Sunday, the competitors will be sailing down the estuary to rally Saint Nazaire to move into the race dimension. Tons of enthusiasm to set the ball rolling. Some 10 000 visitors turned up on...   Read

10/10/09 - 17:10 - A famous three-master whose destiny and history remain closely linked to the town of Nantes and chocolate. Quite unthinkable that the Belem should miss the opportunity to salute the fleet setting out on the inaugural edition of a yacht race run over one of the former cocoa trade routes. Berthed along the Quai de la Fosse opposite the Village Solidaire and open to the public, tomorrow she will be leading the Grande Parade Solidaire from Nantes to...   Read

10/10/09 - 17:10 - France 3 Ouest, media partner  to La Solidaire du Chocolat has opened a page dedicated to the event where you are able to review all of the film shot during the race.
Consult the page now to view the videos already shot on the race village in Nantes by clicking here.

10/10/09 - 16:10 - Nine big chefs belonging to the APCAL (Association for the promotion of cooking from the Loire and Atlantic regions) have struck on an idea to titillate the taste buds of visitors. From 11h this morning to 20h this evening, they are to take turns at giving an hour long demonstration of the particular speciality which has gained them a reputation. Why not go along and sample the “Saint Jacques marinées au youzou » by Christophe Fourré (Le Rive Gauche restaurant) ? Why not the « foie gras mi-cuit et thon cru au vinaigre de chocolat » by Alain Ruffault (Ll'Atelier d'Alain restaurant) ? Tough not to be tempted ! All the more so when you consider that the profits raised (2€ per portion) will be paid over to the Mexican associations involved in the race.

10/10/09 - 14:10 - The starting shot of La Solidaire du Chocolat may not have been fired yet, but some highly symbolic happenings are already going on ashore. The highly emblematic last minute entry of a Franco-Mexican crew comprising Patrice Carpentier and Victor Maldonado brings the number of boats entered to 24. Ten different nationalities are now represented on this first run of race between Nantes / Saint-Nazaire and the Yucatan. Backed by the French Crédit...   Read

09/10/09 - 14:10 - They're coming, they're coming. Little by little the boats for the Solidaire du Chocolat are taking up their berths on the Anne de Bretagne platform in the heart of Nantes, now flying the colours of the first ever offshore race of its kind. Twenty-four 40 foot monohulls and forty-eight sailors are expected, and, as normal, will be accommodated at the Solidaire Village, tomorrow (Friday), from 17:00. The large family for this transatlantic race to...   Read

18/09/09 - 16:09 - Start of the Solidaire du Chocolat on 18 October in Nantes / Saint-Nazaire

Large fresh solidarity storm forecast between France and Mexico!
The Solidaire du Chocolat, the first transatlantic race between France and Mexico (Progreso-Yucatan), will start on 18 October off the shore of Saint Nazaire, after an event related start on Ile de Nantes. It has already reached full momentum...   Read

28/07/09 - 15:07 -

Launched on the 4th of December last year at the Maison de l'Amérique Latine in Paris, the historic first ever transatlantic race between France and Mexico, the Solidaire du Chocolat, was officially unveiled to the region last night. Charities, patrons, skippers, sponsors, local officials, regional partners, journalists, and the entire organisation were invited to the Galerie des Machines on the island of Nantes. 250 people came together,...   Read