The legendary Route du Café is about to write a new chapter in its history. On 26 October 2025, the famous double-handed transatlantic race will set off from Le Havre under its new identity: the Transat Café L'OR. This 17th edition will retain its DNA, with four classes of boats - IMOCA, Ocean Fifty, ULTIM and Class40 - heading for Fort-de-France in Martinique. Nearly 200 sailors are expected to take part in this crossing, which perpetuates the great maritime tradition between Normandy and the historic coffee routes.
Why is the race changing its name from "Jacques Vabre transatlantic race" in 2025?
This strategic change marks a new era for maritime competition. The L'OR brand (from the same group as Jacques Vabre) is strengthening its presence in the world of sailing, with more than 400,000 followers on social networks.
The change is part of an overall modernisation programme. The choice of partner is based on its position as leader in the French coffee market, guaranteeing increased visibility for the nautical event.
The organisers are keeping the very essence of the race: a start in Le Havre, a finish in coffee country and a unique human adventure. This transformation will help attract more sponsors and develop new initiatives to protect the oceans.
The legacy of 30 years of maritime history
The origins of the association with coffee
The maritime adventure began in 1993 when the Jacques Vabre brand joined forces with the city of Le Havre to create a unique race retracing historic trade routes. The concept was directly inspired by the 17th century ships that linked Europe to the coffee-producing lands of South America.
This natural association between sailing and coffee is rooted in a centuries-old trading tradition. The first ships laden with the precious beans docked in the Normandy port as early as 1728, making Le Havre France's leading coffee importer.
The race perpetuates this maritime memory by linking each edition of the historic port with an emblematic coffee destination such as Salvador de Bahia, Cartagena or more recently Fort-de-France, the birthplace of the first American plantations.
The records that marked the event
Exceptional performances are multiplying with each passing edition. The absolute speed record belongs to the duo of Thomas Coville and Jean-Luc Nélias on Sodebo Ultim, with a crossing to Salvador de Bahia in 7 days and 22 hours in 2017.
Participation will be at an all-time high in 2023, with 95 duos taking part, representing a total of 190 sailors. A remarkable figure compared to the 13 solo sailors in the first edition.
The distances covered over 24 hours are now reaching spectacular levels: 568 miles set by the Roucayrol-Pella tandem in the Multi50. The IMOCA monohulls are not to be outdone, with top speeds of over 40 knots, demonstrating the extraordinary progress made in marine technology.
Find out more about Transat Café L'OR (official website)
The race's environmental commitment
Protecting the oceans is an absolute priority for this maritime competition. The 2025 action plan is based on major innovations: the exclusive use of renewable energy on the support boats and the total elimination of single-use plastics.
The organisers have launched the "Ocean & Environment Innovation Challenge", aimed at promoting projects committed to OceanTech and GreenTech, such as the use of renewable energies at sea, new means of propulsion, innovative materials and anti-collision devices for cetaceans.
The start and finish villages have adopted an exemplary zero waste approach. A three-stream selective sorting system is in place to avoid waste that is not recycled. Awareness-raising workshops are also open to the public to promote good environmental practices.
The 2025 route: heading for Martinique
The Grand Depart from Le Havre on 26 October: The village and events
The 2025 edition of the Transat Café L'OR / Jacques Vabre will start in the city of Le Havre, which regularly hosts a number of sailing events such as the Solitaire du Figaro.
The Bassin Paul Vatine comes alive from October 17 with a programme packed with exciting discoveries. Visitors will be able to enjoy free sailing baptisms and fascinating encounters with the skippers on the pontoons - as well as admiring the boats alongside the quayside.
The big new feature for 2025 is an immersive space dedicated to the oceans and marine biodiversity. Families will love the fun workshops on protecting the seas, while enthusiasts can take part in conferences led by maritime experts.
Distance and crossing time
For this new year, each category of yacht will be following an adapted route for the Atlantic crossing to Fort-de-France. The Class40s will cover 4,500 nautical miles, arriving between 17 and 22 days after the start.
The IMOCA and Ocean Fifty boats will be sailing a longer course of 5,800 miles, or around 9,300 kilometres. The sailors will reach Martinique after 12 to 15 days for the Ocean Fifty, while the IMOCA boats will take 14 to 17 days.
The skippers of the ULTIM giants will be taking on the most ambitious challenge with 7,500 miles to cover. This demanding route, via Ascension Island, will require 16 to 17 days of intense sailing.
Strategic stages in the Transat Jacques Vabre / Café L'OR
Success on this crossing depends on mastering the critical zones. The first major confrontation awaits the sailors as they leave the English Channel, where their route choices often determine the rest of the race.
Crossing the Bay of Biscay represents a considerable technical challenge. The crews will have to deal with complex weather systems and capricious winds that can quickly upset the rankings.
The nerve centre is the Doldrums, the dreaded inter-tropical convergence zone. The duos will need to read the weather forecast carefully to negotiate this tricky passage to Martinique.
The experienced sailors know that victory will depend on their ability to exploit the trade winds in the final stretch.
Where will the transatlantic race jacques vabre arrive in 2025? The finish in Fort-de-France
The bay of Martinique will be transformed into an exceptional maritime theatre to welcome the crews. The finish village, set up on the Fort-de-France seafront, will open its doors from 5 to 16 November 2025. On the programme: discovery of the exhibitors and their craft skills and cultural events. The village is part of an eco-responsible approach, a necessary commitment to preserve the island, which has become a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.
Spectators will be able to admire the majestic entrance of the yachts from the west of the island, near the famous Diamond Rock.
The 4 classes of boats competing in the 2025 edition
IMOCA Open 60s: the art of flying over the waves
These high-tech monohulls represent the excellence of modern naval architecture. Their revolutionary design incorporates the latest generation of foils, enabling the boat to 'fly' over the waves at breathtaking speeds.
The construction uses the most advanced composite materials: carbon, nomex and high-tech fibres ensure lightness and strength. An IMOCA weighs around 8,500 kg and is 18.28 metres long.
The onboard systems are extremely sophisticated: intelligent autopilot, performance sensors and satellite navigation instruments. Sailors even have a protected cockpit to cope with the most demanding conditions.
Class40 in full expansion: the new playground for champions
Class40 is undergoing a remarkable expansion in 2025, with more than 40 crews expected to line up at the start - a record that confirms the dynamism of the category.
The long-awaited return of Michel Desjoyeaux, twice winner of the Vendée Globe, marks a turning point. Seduced by the sporting spirit and performance of the class, he is making a remarkable return to competition.
The new generation Mach 40.5 promises top speeds in excess of 25 knots, combining accessibility and thrills. These boats appeal to enlightened amateurs and seasoned professionals alike.
The arrival of new talent from Italy, the UK and the US has strengthened the international dimension of this burgeoning fleet.
The Ocean Fifty and Ultim: ocean giants redefining speed
These two categories promise to be particularly exciting in 2025. The Ocean Fifty, 15-metre multihulls, stand out for their remarkable agility and their ability to maintain high average speeds throughout the course.
The 32-metre-long Ultim giants promise a grandiose spectacle. The experience they have acquired in recent round-the-world races will enable them to exploit their full potential on the way to Martinique.
The favourite teams for the Transat Café L'OR 2025
Last year's champions
The winners of the 2023 edition have made their mark on the history of this legendary race. Charlie Dalin and Paul Meilhat shone in the IMOCA category, putting in a remarkable performance aboard Apivia.
In the Ultim category, Armel Le Cléac'h and Kevin Escoffier demonstrated their exceptional mastery on Banque Populaire XI. Thibaut Vauchel-Camus and Quentin Vlamynck dominated the Ocean Fifty class on Solidaires en Peloton.
Class40 crowned Ambrogio Beccaria and Nicolas Andrieu on Alla Grande Pirelli, rewarding their bold strategy and unfailing determination. These crews have all written a memorable page in the history of the race.
New duos to watch
The 2025 edition marks the arrival of some particularly promising new pairings:
- Franck Cammas and Tom Laperche will be combining their talents on SVR-Lazartigue,
- Emmanuel Le Roch and Basile Bourgnon are preparing for their third consecutive participation on Edenred.
- In the monohulls, Yoann Richomme has put his trust in Corentin Horeau to form a formidable duo on Paprec Arkéa.
Which campsite should you stay at to watch the start of the 2025 Café L'OR transatlantic race?
On 26 October 2025, if you want to watch the start of the Transat Jacques Vabres / Café L'OR, you can choose a campsite near Le Havre or even one in the Seine-Maritime or Calvados regions. Choosing camping accommodation will mean a cheaper stay than staying in a hotel.
For a campsite close to the start of the race, we recommend Le Château d'Arvid **** campsite, in Villerville, Calvados. Reopened from 18 October to 01 November, it can accommodate you for a week's holiday in a well-equipped (and heated!) mobile home, or just for the transatlantic race start weekend.
As well as Le Havre on 26 October, Deauville (6 km), Trouville and its airport and Honfleur (9 km) are all within easy reach of the campsite.